Phyllis Schmidt

Phyllis Schmidt, 89, Osakis, Minn., died Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Knute Nelson Home in Alexandria, MN.

Visitation for her will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday evening, Nov. 5, at the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis. A celebration of her life reception will begin at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Osakis VFW Post #7902.

LIFE HISTORY -

Phyllis Mae Wild was born in Marshall, MN on August 17, 1931 to Edwin and Mae (Ford) Wild.  She attended country school Dist. # 94 and Lynd Consolidated School.  She married James L. Schmidt on February 8, 1949 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy, MN.  They farmed near Milroy and Marshall until 1958 when they moved to Forada, MN and in 1959 purchased a farm near Osakis, MN which they operated until the 1980’s.  They became members of the Immaculate Conception Catholic parish in Osakis and Phyllis volunteered with the St. Elizabeth Mission Circle to make quilts and clothing for the missions and belonged for a time to the Christian Mothers Confraternity.

Phyllis was an amazing seamstress who made, tailored and repaired an untold number of outfits over the years for customers and family.  She also loved to sew crafting projects to sell and share.  Always busy (and with a big smile on her face) Phyllis also found time to harvest a large garden and can fruits and vegetables to feed her family all winter.  In addition she went to work in maintenance for the Wood Hill Apartments and then as a cook at the Young People’s Place in Alexandria, retiring in 1999.  Most of all, Phyllis enjoyed being with her children and their families.

Phyllis will live on in the hearts of her family, including two sons and two daughters, Cheryl Reynolds of Redwood Falls, MN, Michael (Romona) Schmidt of Carlos, MN, Dennis Schmidt of Wall, SD and Danita (Kyle) Ward of Farwell, MN; a son-in-law, Robert Walsh of Osakis; 25 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren and 28 great, great grandchildren; her sister, Roxanna Seymour of Oregon; many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her parents, husband, James Schmidt, daughters, Faye Tenhoff, Mary Jo Walsh and Lynnette Schmidt; son-in-law, James Tenhoff; grandson, Peter Chmelar and siblings, Floyd Wild, Bill & Dick and Harold Ford, Betty Pyle, Caroline Dwire, Alma Dwire, Kathryn Webb, Helen Dinwiddie, Ella McCesney and Esther Shuler.

Services for Phyllis begin with a visitation on Thursday evening from 4:30 – 7:30 pm at the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, MN.  Inurnment is at the Calvary Cemetery with grandson, Adam Ward as urnbearer.  Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren.  A celebration of her life will take place with a reception at the Osakis VFW Post #7902 beginning at 3 pm.

Memories and condolences may be left for Phyllis under her Tribute page at www.royhetland.com.