Wally Smidt

Wallace “Wally” Smidt was born August 1, 1925 to Siemen and Bertha (Bartels) Smidt in Osborne Township, near Edgerton, Minnesota. Wally was baptized on August 30, 1925 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Edgerton, Minnesota and later confirmed on May 12, 1940 at St. John Lutheran Church in Trosky, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm and attended District 19 country school and Edgerton Public School. Wally was united in marriage to the love of his life, Jeanette Suda, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Suda, on October 15, 1950 at St. James Lutheran Church in Holland, Minnesota. Wally continued to work with his father and uncles until 1957 when he and Jeanette moved to a farm near Cazenovia, Minnesota. In addition to farming, Wally worked for the Pipestone Livestock Auction Market on sale days for 25 years. In 1991 Wally and Jeanette moved from the farm into Pipestone, and Wally began working part-time for Pipestone Grain Elevators. In their 67 years of marriage they were blessed with three children, Karen, Bruce and Lisa. In August of 2016 Wally was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and on Saturday, October 21, 2017 died at home with his family by his side.

Wally was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Holland and later of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone. He actively served his congregations as usher, trustee, and elder, enjoyed playing on their dart ball teams, and was a member of the AAL and Lutheran Brotherhood Boards. He was a member of the Golden Club, and the Farmer’s Co-op Elevator Board, a volunteer driver for the Senior Center, and helped at the Pipestone Community Food Shelf.

For 61 years Wally looked forward to bowling night, and he and his teammates brought home numerous trophies. He volunteered for 31 years at the Good Samaritan Home, specializing in popcorn popping, and in 2010 was honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award. He especially enjoyed visiting his children to help with projects at their homes. This often included sweeping out their garages, picking up sticks, or building back yard sheds. Mornings and evenings he thanked the Lord for another day.

Wally was preceded in death by his parents, Siemen and Bertha; and his sisters, Myrna Borman and Marvella Zarn.

Wally is lovingly remembered by his wife, Jeanette, of Pipestone, Minnesota; three children, Karen (David) Jerabek of Manhattan, Kansas, Bruce (Elizabeth) Smidt of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Lisa (Scott) Vander Sluis of Le Mars, Iowa; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; brother, Edward (Gloria) Smidt of Pipestone, Minnesota, and sisters, Lorraine Scheerhoorn of Pipestone, Minnesota and Dorothy (Ted) Kueker of Rochester, Minnesota. He will also be greatly missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Building Fund, or the Good Samaritan Home of Pipestone Popcorn and Special Events Fund.