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Melvin Schmidt

Melvin Schmidt

CEYLON — Services for Melvin Schmidt, 96, of Ceylon, Minn., will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Welcome. Military honors will be immediately following services at the church. Burial will be in Lake Belt Township Cemetery near Ceylon.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2020, at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont, and one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church.

Melvin passed away Saturday morning, March 7, 2020, at Valley Vue Care Center in Armstrong, Iowa.

Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Melvin Carl Godfred Schmidt was born Aug. 15, 1923, on the family farm in Lake Belt Township, near Ceylon, Minn., to Henry and Ella (Meyer) Schmidt. He received his education at country school in Lake Belt Township. Mel enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling, Minn., on Oct. 3, 1946, and served his country proudly. He was honorably discharged Feb. 11, 1948, and returned home to his beloved family farm near Ceylon.

On Aug. 26, 1950, Mel was united in marriage to Belvadere “Babe” Niss in Fairmont, Minn. Together they made their home on the family farm, where they raised four daughters: Pam, Kaye, Kim and Kelly. Melvin loved life on the farm and took great pride in his stewardship of the land.

Mel and Babe were members of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Ceylon until the church closed. They then became members of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Welcome.

Mel was active in the Ceylon community and enjoyed many years as a member and past Commander of Nassen-Detert American Legion Post 539. He also proudly served as a member of the Ceylon School Board for over 15 years.

He was a health enthusiast and had a passion for reading books on health and nutrition. He loved sharing this information with those who were interested.

Mel always had a sense of humor, but over the last few years he was especially known for entertaining his family, friends and especially his caregivers with the one-liners he would come up with.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Pam Gjerde and her husband, Glenn of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Kaye Schultze and her husband, Kevin of Ceylon, Kim Garbers and her husband, Mic of Welcome, Minn., Kelly Drake and her husband, Norman of Brandon, S.D.; grandchildren, Jeff Gjerde, Elizabeth Richter (Dave), Gretchen Gjerde, Heather Meade (Jason), Brent Schultze (Season), Lance Garbers (Christy), Andy Garbers, Adam Garbers (Stacy), Brianna McLaughlin (Corde), Chris Drake (Fawn), Nicole Drake; 27 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Arla Mae Childs, Ruth Peterson, Sherry Schmidt, Karen Niss and Judy Niss; brother-in-law, Lenny Niss; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Melvin was preceded in death by his wife, Babe; parents, Henry and Ella Schmidt; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leonard and Ella Niss; sister, Lavina Champine; son-in-law, Jim Herbrandson; two grandchildren, Jodee Herbrandson and Alex Bindert; brothers-in-law, Howard Champine, Corwin Schmidt, Loren Niss, Jerry Niss, Dick Childs, Glen Milford, and Maurice Peterson; and sisters-in-law, Truma Milford and Jeri Niss.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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