Richard Julius Schmidt

Richard Julius Schmidt, known to his friends as Dick, passed away at the age of 85, with his children at his side, on June 29, 2024.

A funeral service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cass Lake, MN, where Richard found solace and community throughout his life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Gideons and Immanuel Lutheran Church of Cass Lake.

On May 7, 1939, he was born the middle child of five boys, the only one among his siblings born at home on the family farm, to Henry August Schmidt and Erna Helena Moebius. Richard was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran in Cass Lake, MN, and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran in Guthrie, MN.

He attended Nary School and later graduated from Bemidji High School in 1957. His early career included working at NuPly in Bemidji and testing dairy milk in southern Minnesota before enlisting in the Navy in 1966 during the Vietnam War.

Richard, a proud 20-year Navy veteran, graduated from the US Naval Hospital Corps School in San Diego in 1967. During his service, he worked in Naval hospitals and dispensaries and had assignments with Marine helicopter squadrons. He served in Memphis, TN, the Naval Air Stations Cubi Point and Sangley Point in the Philippines, and Da Nang Air Base in Vietnam.  It was in the Philippines where he met and married his beloved wife, Teofila "Fe", and where their daughter Rosemarie was born. Despite a severe back injury sustained during his service, Fe's care enabled Richard to continue his military career until his retirement.

Richard's Naval career took him to various stations around the world, including Meridian, MS; Okinawa, Japan; Camp Lejune, NC; and Newark, NJ, where he served as a recruiter for the Marines and where his son Richard II was born.  He worked at the Naval Air Station medical dispensary in Guam, and finally concluded his service as Chief Hospital Corpsman at the Naval Reserve Center in Billings, MT.

Upon retiring from the Navy, Richard returned to Minnesota where he studied carpentry at the Bemidji Vo-Tech. In addition to working as a carpenter, he also worked in the meat and maintenance departments at Lueken's, delivered newspapers, and test-drove cars. His love for farming never waned, as he continued to work the land, making hay, growing fruits and vegetables for the local Farmer's Market, and cultivating gladiolus, a favorite of Fe's.  He was known for his generosity at the Bemidji Community Food Shelf for donating thousands of pounds of produce.

Richard's devotion to his family was unwavering. After Fe suffered a brain aneurysm in 2001, Richard cared for her diligently for 18 years. He was also an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Cass Lake, MN, where he served as an Elder, continuing the tradition set by his parents, who were married there. Known for his kindness and dedication to family and community, Richard will be remembered as a cherished friend and neighbor, always ready to lend a hand or a listening ear. He enjoyed keeping in touch with his military buddies and meeting with the local Veterans Writers Group.  And he loved any dog that came his way.

In recent years, Richard faced health challenges, including a diagnosis of Parkinson’s or Parkinsonism. Despite this, he remained in the home he had built with Fe until a sudden decline led to his hospitalization. Richard leaves behind a legacy of resilience, compassion, and service. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Erna Schmidt, brothers Robert, Donald, and Max, and his beloved wife Teofila "Fe" Schmidt. He is survived by his daughter Rosemarie, son Richard II, brother Carl, and cherished nieces and nephews Michael Schmidt, Karin Ellingson, and Brad Schmidt, Henry Schmidt, & Veronica Tassey.

We wish to thank the nurses and aides at Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji for their care and compassion during Richard's last month of life.

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