Alvin Schmidt

CASCADE - Alvin Schmidt, 83, of Cascade, an Air Force veteran and a retired chief master sergeant of the Montana Air National Guard, died of natural causes Sunday, Oct. 23, at a local care facility.

A memorial service with military honors is 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel, with private burial at a later date. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Alvin was born May 1, 1928, to Gottfried and Ottilia (Mertz) Schmidt in Marsh, Mont., in Prairie County. He was raised and educated in the Marsh/Mildred area, graduating from Mildred High School in 1946. He served in the Air Force from 1948 to 1952, and was stationed mainly in Guam and Germany.

He married Eleanor Schneider on April 10, 1953, in Mildred.

Alvin worked for Buffalo Rapids Irrigation in Terry, Mont., until 1960, when he moved to the Great Falls area. Alvin joined the Montana Air National Guard in 1961, and retired in 1988 at the rank of chief master sergeant.

He also farmed, ranched and raised quarter horses on the Fairfield Bench. Alvin was a lifelong Cleveland Indians and Power Pirates fan. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play sports and relaxing at his home on the Dearborn River.

Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Schmidt of Cascade; a daughter, Cindy (Stephen) Banich of Libby; sons Ken (Chris) Schmidt, Rex (Joanie) Schmidt and Rich (Elisabeth) Schmidt, all of Great Falls, and Joe (Lisa) Schmidt of Power; sisters Lorraine Ban Grist of Laurel, Edna Straub of Baker, Mariam (Jack) McMurry of Farson, Wyo., and Eldora (Calvin) Fischer of Fairfield; brother Rev. Edward Schmidt of Moses Lake, Wash.; 13 grandchildren, Mike, Katea (Mike), Lynn, Daniel, Emily, Rylee, Kyle, Raygen, Nellie, Jake, Logan, Brooke and Payton; and his beloved dog, Chubacca.

He was preceded in death by brothers Leonard, Thomas, Bill and Richard; and by a great-grandson, Caleb Mitchell Schmidt.

Condolences may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.