Walter Schmidt

Walter Fred Louis Schmidt, 84, of Dalton, died Sunday, February 19, 2017, at Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo, ND.

Walter was born on February 3, 1933, to Fred and Edna (Hanneman) Schmidt in Buse Township, rural Fergus Falls. He attended country school and Fergus Falls High School. When he was a senior, he joined the Army National Guard, and was called to service in January of 1951 and was discharged in December of 1952. He and his brother, Clarence were called to duty on the same day.

On June 26, 1955, Walter was united in marriage to Fern Gunderson at Tordenskjold Lutheran Church in rural Underwood. Over the years, he was a truck driver for the rendering plant, Fergus Lumber and Fuel, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Ray Krog Trucking and then became the manager of Underwood Shipping Associates for many years, which was later known as West Otter Tail Shipping Associates. Walter then leased a truck to Sammons out of Missoula, MT, where he was picked as a “Driver of the Month.” In 1981, Walter and Fern moved to Vancouver, WA, and lived there for twenty-one years, before moving back to Minnesota in 2002, following their retirement.

Walter was a member of The Elks, The Ashby American Legion, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He also served as Mayor of Underwood for one term. Walter enjoyed hunting, especially elk hunting and fishing. In their retirement, Walter and Fern spent their winters in an RV in Apache Junction, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Clarence Schmidt; a sister, Delores (Schmidt) Runningen; sisters-in-law, Laura (Langfeld) Schmidt and Genevieve Marquard; brothers-in-law, Arvid and Roger Gunderson and twin great-granddaughters, Savannah and Emily Thiel.

Walter is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Fern Schmidt of Dalton; four sons, David (Cheryl) Schmidt of Jamestown, ND, Daryl (friend, Vicki) Schmidt of Underwood, Dennis (Jennifer) Schmidt of Farwell and Duane (Sue) Schmidt of Monticello; his grandchildren, Jason (Kristen) Schmidt, Krystin (Mark) Thiel, Brent (Heather Mikkelson) Schmidt, Heather (Darren) Herman, Jamie Schmidt, Jake (friend, Natalie) Kent, and Taylor (John) Burns; his great-grandchildren, Cole Schmidt, Noah Kisch, Lillian Schmidt, Nathan Thiel, Evan Thiel, Miah Schmidt, Michael Schmidt, Braxton Schmidt, Taelyn Schmidt, Carter Herman, Sophie Herman and Mercy Sund; two brothers-in-law, Ruben Runningen and James Gunderson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11:00 am Saturday, February, 25 2017 at Tordenskjold Free Lutheran Church, rural Underwood
Clergy: Pastors Mark Johnson and Dan Hurner
Interment: Tordenskjold Lutheran Cemetery, rural Underwood
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN