Marjorie C. Schmidt

MARJORIE CHARLEEN SCHMIDT was born March 15, 1934 to Thorvald and Olivia (Jensen) Rasmusen in Tyler, Minnesota. She was baptized at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler, and confirmed at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang, California in 1947. She grew up in Tyler, but the family had moved to Solvang for a short time before returning to Tyler, where she graduated from Tyler High School in 1952. On November 2, 1952 Marjorie married Eldon Schmidt at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang. Their union was blessed with five children and 60 years of life together. The couple made their home and raised their family in Lake Benton. In 1972 she opened Margie’s Caf in Lake Benton. She was head cook for Lake Benton school until 1979, when the couple moved to Sedona, Arizona where she worked at the Sedona and Cottonwood school cafeterias. She retired in 2002 and they moved back to Lake Benton. On November 20, Margie suffered a cardiac arrest at her home. She was transferred to the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where on Friday, November 23, 2012, surrounded by many of her loved ones, Margie went home to be with her Lord at the age of 78 years, 8 months, and 8 days.

Margie was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lake Benton and of Peace Lutheran Church in Sedona, Arizona, and enjoyed singing in their church choirs. By far her favorite pastime was playing cards. She liked four-wheeling and off-road adventures while in Arizona, where she went to enjoy the warm weather. She was an excellent cook and baker. Most of all she enjoyed time spent with her family and friends…playing cards.

Margie is lovingly remembered by her husband, Eldon; her children, Philip Schmidt of Lake Benton, Minnesota, Mona (Patrick) Haynes of Lake Benton, Minnesota, Jackie (Tom) Heesch of Pipestone, Minnesota, Kim Gates of Lake Benton, Minnesota, and Jane (Kevin) Davenport of Battle Ground, Washington; grandchildren, Amber (Brent) DuHoux, Bobby (Rachel) Kuiper, Dana (Andrea) Davenport, Christopher (Heather) Haynes, Benjamin Haynes, Eric Macias, Melissa Davenport, and Kiersten Surbeck; great-grandchildren, Kaylee Kuiper, Brayden Kuiper, Breylon Kuiper, Morgan Haynes, Kade Moffitt, Penelope Davenport, Jayse Kuiper, Etta Davenport, and Hannah Haynes; one brother, Roland Rasmusen of Scottsdale, Arizona; her granddog, Boomer; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Olivia and Thorvald Rasmusen, and sister-in-law Gloria Rasmusen.