Raymond L. Schmidt

*Please Note Services are February 16th and 17th*

Raymond Schmidt was born April 8, 1928 on the family farm six miles east of Newton, Ks. on 24th Street to Isaac J. Schmidt and Martha (Richert) Schmidt. He died at Kidron Bethel Healthcare Center North Newton on February 8, 2018 at the age of 89. Raymond grew up on the same farm where he was born. He married Elfrieda Ruth Lohrentz at the Hebron Mennonite Church August 28, 1948.

For the first years of marriage they lived in the Buhler and Burrton, Ks. area. For 21 years they followed the wheat harvest from Texas, through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Montana ending the harvest close to the Canadian border.

Rosalie and Rosanne were born in 1949 and 1952. In 1960 the family moved to a farm 3 ½ miles Southwest of Peabody, Ks. Ronda and Royce were added to the family in 1960 and 1963.

Raymond and Elfrieda continued farming through 2004 in the Peabody area as well as the farm where Raymond was born and raised on that our Polish Mennonite ancestors settled on in 1874. Besides farming he enjoyed raising cattle and sheep. They moved from the farm to North Newton Ks. in 2000.

Raymond was self-taught in many skills becoming proficient as a mechanic, welder, carpenter and farmer. He was a life time member of Grace Hill Mennonite Church. For many years Raymond served on the church Social Committee. Raymond volunteered many times with the Mennonite Disaster Services, working at the MCC sale in Hutchinson, Ks. every spring as well as working with the Mennonite meat canner in the fall.

Raymond is survived by his spouse Elfrieda, Daughter Rosalie (Tom) Zamzow, Topeka, Daughter Rosanne (Doug) Janssen, Wichita, Daughter Ronda Schmidt of Roach, Mo. and Son Royce (Sharon) Schmidt Newton, Ks.; Five grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren. He was proceeded in death by his parents, and two sisters, Dora Schmidt and Linda Marie Goering.

A memorial service to honor Raymond’s life will be held at Grace Hill Mennonite Church Whitewater Ks. 11:00 a.m., Saturday February 17, 2018. Private family burial will take place at Grace Hill Cemetery. Visitation will at Menno Hall at Kidron Bethel Village from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, February 16, 2018

A memorial has been established with Grace Hill Mennonite Church in care of Petersen Funeral Home of Newton, Ks. On-line condolences for the family may be left at www.petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com

On behalf of Raymond’s family, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers.