Stella Schmidt

Our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Stella Schmidt, was born as the fourth child of Gerhard and Ida (Ratzlaff) Yost on July 25, 1922 in Las Animas, Colorado. Early Thursday evening on September 15, 2016, the Lord called her home. She reached the age of 94 years.

In 1925, she moved with her parents to the Copeland area and in 1929, they moved to Montezuma where she spent the rest of her life. When mother was 14, she gave her heart to God and was baptized on December 13, 1936 by Minister Frank Wenger. She loved the Lord and was steadfast in her faith.

On March 31, 1946, she was married to Harry Schmidt in Montezuma. After getting married, they lived in different places, always staying in the Copeland and Montezuma communities. In December of 1951, God blessed them with one daughter, Brenda. In 1967, Stella and Harry settled with their daughter on the family farm where Harry had grown up.

When they retired, they moved into Montezuma and enjoyed 22 years together before moving to the Bethel Home apartments. After Harry’s death, she was so thankful she could move to full care in Bethel Home. She very much appreciated the wonderful care she received there till the time of her death.

Mom was a lady who paid attention to detail. She was very structured and believed a job worth doing was worth doing well. She enjoyed reading and her quiet time. Taking care of her home and family were very important to her. As a grandmother, she was wonderful and always welcomed us with a kiss and good food. We knew when the five of us walked in, it took away her “quiet time” but she loved us unconditionally.

Those left with loving memories are a daughter, Brenda Giesbrecht and husband Merle of Hartley Texas; five grandchildren, Teresa and Barry Friesen of Ballico, California, Randy and Marcie Giesbrecht of Rayville, Louisiana, Mark and Brittni Giesbrecht of Rayville, Louisiana, Bonnie and Bobby Stull of Dalhart, Texas, and Deanne and Chad Schoonover of Dalhart, Texas; 20 great grandchildren, one brother, Paul and Verbena Yost of Montezuma; two brothers-in-law, John and Ben Schmidt both of Montezuma; and one sister-in-law, Elizabeth Koehn of Montezuma. She is preceded in death by her husband Harry, her parents, three sisters, and two brothers.

Funeral service will be held at Montezuma Mennonite Church on Monday September 19, 2016 at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at Montezuma Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma on Sunday September 18, 2016 from noon to 3:30 PM. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.