Lucille Elaine Schmidt

Lucille Schmidt, 90, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Facility in Winner, SD. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 11:00AM at the Christ Lutheran Church in Winner. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to funeral service.

Lucille Elaine Schmidt was born July 13, 1935 to Alice and Herman Weiss of Amelith, Michigan. She was baptized on July 31, 1935 at St. John Lutheran Church in Amelith, where she also attended school through 8th grade and confirmed her Baptismal vows on April 10, 1949. Pastor Rev. Fred Bickel and Teacher W.H. Lorhmann were mentors during these years.

Lucille grew up in a family of 6 girls on the farm once owned by her grandfather, who also lived with the family. They had all the farm animals there were and a few more, a big garden, a grape arbor, and an orchard of apples and pears. There were plenty of chores for everyone.

Each Spring and Fall during grade school years, Lucille would sell garden seed packets to earn money for summer 4-H camp. She'd pack a lunch, load her school bag with packets of vegetable and flower seeds, then ride her bike around the farming community selling to neighbors, friends and relatives. While in high school, she participated in the school work program and was employed at 5 & 10 stores working at the counter and in other areas. Making Easter baskets and personalizing chocolate Easter eggs with other student employees were favorite tasks.

Donald Schmidt and Lucille were married in 1954 at St. John's, shortly after he was drafted into the US Army. They moved to North Carolina and lived in housing off-base until he was discharged two years later. They returned to Michigan where Don continued his beekeeping business. In 1957, the business was moved to Winner, South Dakota where they built a new home. They became active in the newly formed Christ Lutheran Church where Lucille taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for more than 50 years.

Lucille is survived by husband Donald, children Kenneth (Deanna) Schmidt, Terese (Kevin) Vogts, and Stephanie (John) Orthel, 10 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.