Schmidt, Malinda Mae Siebert (1898-1986)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 8 Jan 1987 p. 11

Birth date: 1898

text of obituary:

MALINDA SIEBERT SCHMIDT

Malinda Mae Siebert Schmidt was born near Dundee, Kan., on Oct. 27, 1898, and died of an apparent heart attack while attending a Mission Workers meeting at her church, Bergthal Mennonite Church, near Pawnee Rock on Nov. 5, 1986. She celebrated her 88th birthday nine days before her death. Her parents were Benjamin and Susan Ewert Siebert.

She attended Barton County Schools and graduated from Great Bend High School, where she prepared to become a teacher. During her high school years, she and her siblings. Viola and Chester, rode the train from Dundee to Great Bend, where they lived while attending school. Weekends they returned to their home: She taught school for two years.

On Sept. 30, 1922, she married Otto C. Schmidt from the Whitewater area, where they lived for several years until their house burned. They then moved to the Pawnee Rock community where they farmed until his death on May 3, 1966. She remained in the farm home.

She was baptized by G.N. Harms in July 1922 and remained an active member of the church for the rest of her life. Always fond of music, she and her husband sang duets for many occasions in the church and community. She also sang solos and participated in various ensembles. She was a member of the Happy Harmony Club and the Pawnee County Grange, of which she once served as chaplain.

She and her husband also were faithful in visiting the sick and shut-ins, for whom they sang and played recorded music.

Throughout her life, she memorized many songs and poems, and her friends were amazed at her ability to recall words learned many years ago. She maintained a pleasant, sunny outlook.

Family ties were important to her, and she cherished her nieces and nephews. She was especially thrilled to be able to visit and hold her niece's newborn granddaughter at her last birthday celebration.

She is survived by a sister, Viola Unruh of Great Bend, and six nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, a brother, Chester, a sister, Addie Harms, three nephews and one niece.

Funeral services were held at the Bergthal Mennonite Church, Pawnee Rock, on Nov. 8, 1986, with Perry and Eleanor Beachy officiating. Gary Harms, a nephew, assisted. Interment was in the church cemetery.