Betty Schmidt, 89, of Oakland, Iowa
Betty Ann Schmidt, the daughter of William Burris and Mildred Helen (Hubatka) Young, was born July 9, 1935, in Greenfield, IA. Betty died January 19, 2025, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, IA, at the age of 89 years, 7 months, and 10 days.
Betty attended country school through the 7th grade and then graduated from Adair High School with the class of 1953. Growing up on a farm, she loved helping her father with lambs and playing with her black and white border collie named Laddie. After graduating, she attended Iowa State Teacher College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, enrolling in the two-year teachers program. She graduated in the spring of 1955. Betty married Richard Schmidt on May 29, 1955, in Adair, IA. Three children were born to this union: Marilyn Kay, Connie Jo, and Karla Kay. They lived in Casey and Adair until they moved to Oakland in 1961. Betty began teaching 3rd grade in Oakland, IA in 1965. During her years of teaching, she continued taking classes at UNO in Omaha and then received her Masters Degree from UNI. She continued teaching for 32 years and retired in 2000.
Betty was a member of the Oakland Congregational Church – UCC where she was active in the women’s fellowship. Her faith was very important to her, and she tried to instill this in her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the 20th Century Club and volunteered at Oakland Manor and Oakland Community Center. She enjoyed making quilts, creating quilts for each of her children, grandchildren, and numerous baby quilts for great-grandchildren, relatives, and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers Manley and wife Velta, and Tom and wife Marge; and her sons-in-law Jim Skudler and David Rodger.
She is survived by her daughters: Marilyn Rodger, Connie Haines and husband Roger, and Karla Keener and husband Joey; grandchildren Shaun Skudler, Dustin Skudler and wife Cori, Jacob Haines, Taylor Haines Cody and husband John, and Allyson Keener; great-grandchildren: Sofia Skudler, Sawyer Skudler, RJ Skudler, and Cayne Cody; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
A celebration of life memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at the Legacy Baptist Church, 302 Oakland Ave., (formerly the Oakland Congregational Church – UCC), in Oakland, IA. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the memorial service. Interment will be in Belknap Cemetery. Memorials may be given to St. Croix Hospice. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting the family.
