Schmidt, Edwin T. (1893-1978)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1979 Jan 05 p. 31

Birth date: 1893 June 22

text of obituary:

REV. EDWIN T. SCHMIDT

Rev. Edwin T. Schmidt of Saskatoon died suddenly December 8. He was born to Tobias David and Helena Schmidt June 22, 1893 at Avon, South Dakota. In 1901 the family moved to Saskatchewan and homesteaded near Waldheim. In 1905 he received Christ as his personal Saviour during revival meetings conducted by Rev. Peter Wiebe. He received assurance of salvation at the age of 18 in a very personal way while plowing in the field. On August 27 of the same year he was baptized and joined the Salem Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church of Waldheim. He completed elementary school at Springfield School and high school at Rosthern Junior College. He then attended the Saskatoon Normal School and started teaching at Windom, Sask. There he met Lena Gossen and married her in December 1914. The Salem Church under elder Henry A. Gossen asked him to assist in the ministry, so he attended Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas for two and a half years . He returned to t.he Salem community to minister with Gossen and Henry M. Epp, and was ordained on May 21, 1923. At the same time he continued farming, and taught in Windom, Brotherfield, Rose River, Springfield, Snowbird and Hoffnungsort for more than 33 years. In 1960 he and his wife retired to Saskatoon, where they joined the Central Mennonite Brethren Church. His wife died in 1965, and several years later he moved to the Central Haven Personal Care Home in Saskatoon. On the evening of his death, he was at a "carol sing" at the home. He suggested a favorite, "How Great Thou Art", and after a few verses were sung, got up and encouraged residents to do much better, to "raise the roof". He directed them in several verses, sat down, and died.

He is survived by his six daughters, Verna (Mrs. Menno) Dirks of Regina, Salome (Mrs. William) Ratzlaff of Waldheim, Miriam (Mrs. Rudy) Grunau of Red Deer, Alta., Lois (Mrs. Rueben) Dirks of Dalmeny, Sask., Laurina (Mrs. Leonard) Graham and Wilma of Saskatoon; two sons, Royal and Joyce of Willowdale, Ont., and Loyal and Margaret of Saskatoon: twenty grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, as well as many other relatives and friends.

Two funeral services were held on December 12 one at Central Mennonite Brethren Church and the other at the Salem Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church in Waldheim.