NAME OF DECEASED: Shiela Sutton Schmidt
Shiela Sutton Schmidt, 100, died January 26, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Center, Howard, South Dakota. She was born December 28, 1911 at Salina, Kansas, the daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Smith) Sutton. She grew up in Salina, graduating from Salina High School in 1929. She earned her A. D. in History from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina in 1933 and her A. M. in music from Colorado State College of Education at Greeley in 1946. Mrs. Schmidt then taught music at various schools in central Kansas, including Albert, Heizer, Countryside, Shady Grove, Holyrood, and Pawnee Rock. She also gave private piano lessons and was very involved in school productions, including costume and set design.
She met her future husband, Harold B. Schmidt, while they were both teaching at Pawnee Rock in 1946. They were married December 28, 1946 and made their life together on the Schmidt family homestead near Pawnee Rock. Together they had one daughter, Shiela Katharine and helped raise Harold’s niece Patricia. She was an active member of both the Pawnee Rock and Madison, South Dakota communities. She participated in a wide range of clubs and activities such as Delta Kappa Gamma, Santa Fe Trail Association, Questers group, literacy program, alumni associations, and church groups. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Madison.
Survivors include two grandchildren, Jason Karlin and his wife Natasha, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Stephanie Terwilliger and her husband Jason, Winfred, South Dakota; five grandchildren, Ava Karlin, Gage Karlin, Cassidy Terwilliger, Harris Terwilliger, and Autumn Terwilliger; special friend, Helen Graham, Madison, South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; her daughter, Shiela “Katharine” Presuhn; one niece, Patricia Crawford; one sister, Maxine Stockebrand; and many dear friends.
Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, February 2, 2012 at Pawnee Rock Cemetery. The Reverend Tom Sheldon will officiate. There will be no visitation. Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, is in charge of local arrangements.