Patricia Ann Schmidt

Patricia Ann Patty Schmidt, 77, passed away Saturday, November 6th surrounded by loved ones. She is remembered as energetic, warm and witty - a loving wife, mother, grandmother, family member, and friend. Her gift for humor lightened the darkest situation and her generous heart found her always eager to lend a hand or an ear. Patty had the unique ability to express her feelings in poetic form as many will remember in her novel Christmas letters. Born June 8, 1933 to Myrtle and Bill Clark in Wall, South Dakota, Patty grew up there with five beloved siblings near the homestead of her Norwegian grandparents. After graduating as salutatorian of her high school class, she attended the Black Hills Teachers College and shared her love of knowledge by teaching at a remote one-room country school house before marrying Wyman C. Schmidt March 1, 1953. After Wyman completed his United States Air Force service, she tended home and hearth while he pursued his education in Idaho, South Dakota, and Montana. In 1960 they settled in Missoula, MT, where Wyman established his career as a research scientist with the US Forest Service. Patty stayed busy raising their five children, and shared her faith through leadership in Lutheran Women#8217;s groups and as a longtime Sunday School teacher at First Lutheran Church. In 1975, Patty and Wyman moved to Bozeman, where Patty continued her active membership in the Lutheran Church. Patty, known for her warm hospitality and generous meals, welcomed hundreds of kids, friends, colleagues, foreign students and strangers into the family home. She and Wyman made the Schmidt home a warm gathering place full of love, laughter and a full fridge. Mom's own struggles gave her an insightful empathy that helped many of our friends through their most difficult times with her compassionate heart. She volunteered for many years at the Crisis Help Center in Bozeman, where she employed her unique empathy and compassion to assist troubled callers. We love you Mom; your warmth, love, wit and humor will be forever a part of each of us. Patty was preceded in death by her parents and by brothers Bill and John Clark. Patty is survived by her husband of 57 years, Wyman C. Schmidt of Bozeman, one daughter, Roxi (Richard) Morris of Austin, Texas; son Carl (Marielle) Schmidt of Missoula; son Roland (Leslie) Schmidt of Bozeman; son Martin Schmidt of Missoula; and son Kurt (Julie-Anne) Schmidt of Bozeman. She is survived by three sisters Evelyn (Charles) Rush of Anchorage, AK; Margaret Peggy (George) Hauk of Grindstone, SD; and Jean (Lanny) Myers of San Jose, CA. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren; Aspen Gonzalez, Collin Griffiths, Lacey Griffiths, Mykal Schmidt, Megan McCloskey, Sydney Schmidt, Shealyn Schmidt, Mariah Schmidt, Nolan Schmidt, Hunter Schmidt, Brynn Schmidt, Cameron Schmidt, and 3 great-grandchildren, Addy Teusink and Copper and Cord Gonzalez; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Services will be held at First Lutheran on Black Ave., Saturday, November 13 at 11:00 AM. A private family interment will precede this service. Donations, if desired, may be made to LWML c/o First Lutheran Church, 225 S. Black Ave., 59715, or the Help Center, 421 E. Peach, 59715.