Barbara Schmidt of Watertown, SD, formerly of Marietta, MN, died on May 27, 2025, at the age of 88 years. Memorial services will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church in Marietta, MN. Burial will be in the Augusta Cemetery, Marietta. Visitation will be held Saturday one hour prior to the service. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN is entrusted with the arrangements.
Barb Marie Schmidt was born in Madison, MN, to Henry and Vivian Johnson on December 3, 1936. She was baptized at the home of her grandparents, William and Lillie Bork, in Revillo, SD. Barb’s father died when she was 8 years old. Her mother Vivian later married William Kruse. He was not a stepfather to Barb, but was a dad to her and a grandpa to her children. His children, who had also lost a parent, added a host of siblings to her life. Siblings were something Barb had always wanted. Barb married Eldon Schmidt on December 23, 1956, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marietta, where they have remained as lifelong members. Barb and Eldon have five children – Kim, Carin, Patrice, Mark and Daren. Barb’s early education was at a country school in Antelope Valley Township, in rural Revillo. She graduated from Marietta High School in 1954. Barb attended South Dakota State University and then Augustana University and where she earned a two year teaching degree. She taught one year at the country school. After some time off with her young children, Barb returned to teaching at the elementary school in Gary, SD. During this time Barb attended night classes and summer school at Dakota State University. In 1972 she earned her four year degree in elementary education. Barb finished out her teaching career at the Marietta-Nassau Public School where she taught elementary education. Barb retired from teaching in 1990. Barb enjoyed crossword and jigsaw puzzles, football and rodeos. After Barb and Eldon retired from farming they assisted in five Mission Building projects in the states of Wisconsin, South Carolina, New York, Colorado, and Georgia.
Surviving Barb are her husband Eldon and children Kim (John) Frome of Grover, WY; Carin (Mike) Vance of Panhandle, TX; Patrice Moe of Edina, MN; Mark (Lorie) Schmidt of Gary, SD; and Daren (Michelle) Schmidt of Marietta, MN and their families. Surviving siblings include Duane Kruse, Bill (Bonnie) Kruse, Bev Olson, Roger Kruse, Sharon (Harry) Bradley, Janet Palmer (Greg Fogarty) and sister-in-law Dolly Kruse. Barb is preceded in death by her parents Henry Johnson and William and Vivian Kruse, siblings Eleanor Macy and Kenneth Kruse.
Memorials preferred to the Village of Harmony Hill, Watertown, SD; Prairie Lakes Hospice, Watertown, SD; Marietta Community Center, Marietta, MN; or St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marietta, MN.
