Donald Schmidt

Donald Schmidt, 92, formerly of Scotland, died Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Avera Majestic Bluffs in Yankton, SD. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. vigil followed by praying the Rosary, Friday, February 13, 2026 at Goglin Funeral Home in Yankton. Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. at St. George Catholic Church in Scotland. Burial, with military honors, will be at St. George Catholic Cemetery, Scotland.

Donald Martin Schmidt was born on August 18, 1933, in Scotland, South Dakota to Joseph P. and Rose (Podzimek) Schmidt, the sixth of ten children. He graduated from Scotland High School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, stationed at Travis Air Force base in California, serving at the end of the Korean War. He proudly served his country defending the B-36 bombers stationed there.

It was during this time that he married his high school sweetheart, Delphine Weidenbach, on August 23, 1955. When he was discharged from the Army in 1956, they returned to Scotland where they raised four children: Brian, Tim, Susan, and Mary. He worked at the DX Station and Scotland Redi Mix. In 1964, they moved to Casa Grande, Arizona, where they lived for seven years. There, he made the best memories with his family, picnicking and hiking in the desert, where he would often be photographed with his beloved Saguaro cactus.

An opportunity arose to purchase a farm in Scotland, so the family moved back to South Dakota in 1971. He took pride in his family and his farm. He showed them the value of hard work and passed on to them his deep appreciation and care for the land. He farmed for 23 years until he and Delphine retired to the West Winds Apartments there in Scotland.

In retirement, Don and Delphine were very active in their community. Don was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus, St. George’s Catholic Church, the Scotland Historical Society, and the American Legion, among other associations and positions. He was kind to a fault, always putting others first. He placed God, his family, and his country above all, and would take any opportunity to serve them when called.

Beyond service, Don and Delphine kept a social calendar often playing cards with friends, attending and hosting dinner parties, and traveling across the United States after retiring from the farm. Don loved country music and Western films and television, with a particular fondness for actor John Wayne.

Delphine died on January 27, 2012, and part of Don’s heart did, too. He spent his last eleven years at Avera’s Majestic Bluffs and Sister James’ Nursing Home. We would like to give our sincere thanks to all the Sister James’ staff, especially the Country unit, for all your kindness and care to Dad over the years.

Donald is survived by his four children: Brian Schmidt and Dawn in Phoenix, AZ; Tim Schmidt and Sherri in Chamberlain, SD; Susan and Marc Bies in Yankton, SD; and Mary and Scott Novak in O’Neil, NE, as well as eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren, his sister Betty (Bowyer) Kellen and brother Greg Schmidt.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of fifty-six years, Delphine; his sisters Dorothy, Marilyn, Carol, and Katherine; his brothers Louis (in infancy), Ray and Joey; and his infant great-grandson Levi Donald Hartmann.