Terry Lee Schmidt

Terry Lee Schmidt, age 78, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 22nd, at the Emeralds of Faribault, after a long journey with Alzheimer's dementia.

Terry was born January 10, 1947, in Huron, South Dakota, and grew up in Elmore, Minnesota, before her family moved to Burnsville. From an early age, she carried with her a kind and nurturing spirit, always looking for ways to care for others and brighten their lives.

On August 22, 1970, Terry married her best friend, Bill Schmidt, on the shore of Little Bass Lake near Akeley, Minnesota. Together, they shared 55 years of love, laughter, and partnership, raising two sons, Tom and Sam, and later welcoming two granddaughters who brought her endless joy.

Terry devoted 35 years of her life to teaching in the Faribault Public Schools, where she not only taught but inspired. She coached girls' gymnastics and track & field, and her deep love for the water made her a beloved aquatics teacher and coach. One of her proudest professional accomplishments was creating the WSA/Leadership program at Faribault High School-a one-of-a-kind course that touched countless lives and encouraged many students to follow her path into education.

Outside the classroom, Terry's heart was always with her family. She treasured time with her granddaughters, Mackenzie and Violet, especially when doing crafts or simply being together. She loved tending her garden, welcoming monarch butterflies, and watching wrens and hummingbirds. Autumn was her favorite season-she found joy and peace in the crisp air and the colors of the changing trees. She also loved decorating her home and hosting gatherings, creating warm and welcoming spaces that brought people together.

Terry was selfless and empathetic, always putting others before herself. Her legacy is one of love-love for her family, her students, and her community.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Betty Swope, her sister Kelly, and her brother-in-law Don Bagwell. She is survived by her husband, Bill, of Faribault; son Tom, his wife Kendall, and their daughters Mackenzie and Violet; son Sam and his partner Ashlee; and brothers Tobias Waters and Patrick Swope.

At her request, Terry will be cremated. A small family and friends' celebration of life will be held at a future date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to monarch butterfly conservation, a cause close to Terry's heart, at https://monarchconservation.org/.