Lillian Schmidt

Lillian “Babe” Schmidt was born March 6, 1907 on a farm one half-mile east of Waubun, MN to Joseph and Anna (Starr) Bartos. She shared her birth year with the establishment of the village of Waubun. In 1918, the Bartos family moved east to settle on a 240-acre farm near the White Earth River. One of Babe’s most vivid memories of the move was the church and school bells ringing as they left town, celebrating the end of World War I. Babe attended Adam’s School, later completing her education in Alexandria, MN where she lived and cared for her aunt. Babe met Fred “Seave” Schmidt in 1924 at a barn dance and they were married on July 7, 1934. They made their home near her parents’ farm. Babe was a long time member of Lake Grove Lutheran Church and had many fond memories of her church family. At the annual Lake Grove Fall Dinner, she was known as the “Salad Gal”. Babe was a Sunday School teacher for 12 years, a Ladies Aid member for many years and especially enjoyed quilting in the church basement over a cup of coffee and conversation. She belonged to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, served on the Nutrition Board and was also a member of the Twilighter’s Club. Babe enjoyed fishing, especially spearing in the winter with her “greatest catch” being a 22-pound northern. Babe and Seave also loved traveling, particularly their memorable trip to Europe and numerous fishing trips to the Atlantic Coast. At home, they spent countless hours sitting in their summer kitchen enjoying nature’s beauty. Babe delighted in entertaining, as visitors could never leave without a fresh cup of coffee and homemade treat. In 1991, Babe and Seave moved into Evergreen Village in Waubun. After Seave passed away in 1993, Babe continued to care for her sister, Elizabeth and her brother, Henry. She entered Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes at the age of 102. Babe died at Emmanuel Nursing Home on August 13, 2011 having lived to the age of 104 years. Babe is survived by a son, Rollie (Kathy) Schmidt and a daughter, Nancy Mischke both of Waubun; two granddaughters, Sheri Metcalf of Great Falls, MT, and Heidi (Mark) Benson of Fertile, MN; six great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; along with one nephew, Tom Bartos of Keenesburg, CO. Babe was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; son-in-law, Glen Mischke; two brothers, Jack and Henry Bartos; a sister, Elizabeth Troup; a nephew, John Bartos, and her parents. A memorial service was held Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 10:00 am at the Lake Grove Lutheran Church, rural Waubun with a time of gathering held one hour prior to the service on Thursday. The officiant was Pastor Doyle Turner with Sue Heisler as the organist and Doyle D. Turner providing special music. The honorary bearers were the Lake Grove Ladies Aid. Congregational hymns were “Borning Cry” and “Abide with Me”. Inurnment was at Lake Grove Cemetery, rural Waubun, MN.

Lillian Schmidt

March 6, 1907 - August 13, 2011