Alton Schmidt

Alton "Al" M. Schmidt, 64, Bismarck, died Aug. 3, 2002, in a Bismarck hospital. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at United Church of Christ, Bismarck, with the Rev. Ken Trana officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. at the Fisher Cemetery, Tappen.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Al was born June 29, 1938, at Tappen, N.D., the son of Reinhold and Mary (Schumacher) Schmidt. He grew up in Tappen where he graduated from Tappen High School. He farmed in the area for a few years. Al married Sandy Gaier in 1963 at Jamestown. After farming Al decided to work as a salesman for companies engaged in agricultural products. He was employed with various companies located in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. He married Patricia Hays on June 29, 1984, in Fargo. Al was general manager at Great Plains Planting Center in Minot from 1985 to 1995. The past three years he worked in sales at Stan Puklich in Bismarck.

Al was skilled as a craftsman in wood working making cedar chests with intricate designs, for his children remodeling homes and making decks, taking extra time to come up with that special design. His appreciation of gospel and country music was a great source of enjoyment. Having a great singing voice he shared this talent by singing at weddings, family gatherings and also was a member of the church choir. Al participated in water sports, including jet skiing. He was a farmer at heart, which he showed in his love for nature by growing his garden. A collection of John Deere Tractors continued his fondness of farming. Al especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, attending many dance recitals, family and school functions. He will be missed for his love of family, his outgoing personality and unique sense of humor.

Al is survived by his wife Patricia, Bismarck; three sons and daughters-in-law, Colin and Sara, Meridian, Idaho, Scott and Claudine, Minot, and Lance and Darcy, Bismarck; one daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Aaron Benz, Moffit; one stepdaughter and son-in-law, Tamara and Steve Windish, Bismarck; seven grandchildren, Stephanie and Jaimie Windish, Alex and Brennan Johnson, Jayden and Gavin Benz and Parker Schmidt; and three sisters, Naomi Bateman, Palm Desert, Calif., Viona Gonzales, Atwater, Calif., and Shirley Kessler-Jersey, Berkley, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Lennard.