Menno Herbert Schmidt

Menno Herbert (Babe) Schmidt, age 86, of Willow Lake died on Thursday morning, June 2, 2011, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown after a short illness. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 6, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the Willow Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church in Willow Lake. The Rev. Mark Guthmiller will officiate and burial will follow in the Collins Cemetery at Willow Lake. Military honors will be presented by the Johnnie Fonken American Legion Post #113 of Willow Lake and the U. S. Navy Funeral Honors Team of Sioux Falls. Music will be provided by the organist, Deanna Martens. Singing "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace" will be Dan Schmidt and Jan Hanson. The congregation will sing "Beautiful Savior" and "I'm But a Stranger Here". All family and friends should consider themselves as honorary casketbearers. The active casketbearers will be Michael, Garrett & Jack Schmidt, John Tomasich, Jr., Jerry Herker and Herb Rusche. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Willow Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church in Willow Lake and prior to the service on Monday. The Furness Funeral Home of Clark is in charge of arrangements. Babe was born on August 13, 1924, the son of Menno and Letha (Ackerman) Schmidt on his parent's farm in Hague Township, Clark County, SD. He attended country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Willow Lake High School in 1943. He worked on the family farm until joining the U. S. Navy on January 15, 1945 where he was a quarter master and navigator on the USS LC (FF) 792 and spent time in Guam and the Philippines. He was a drummer in the US Navy Drum and Bugle Corp while he was at the Great Lakes Naval Station. After his discharge on December 8, 1946, Babe began farming and built the home that he lived in his whole married life. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Herker on June 17, 1951. Son Allen was born in April of 1952, Terry in January of 1955 and Bob in July of 1962. He was a farmer and cattleman all of his life until his retirement in 1986. In the early 1970's, brothers Don, Melvin and Babe expanded their farming operations to include potatoes. Babe learned to fly and later owned three different airplanes. He and Phyllis enjoyed traveling. Deer and antelope hunting West River was a passion of his for more than 20 years. After his retirement, he owned and operated Babe's Lounge where he enjoyed visiting with people. Besides flying, Babe enjoyed playing baseball, music, dancing and spending time with his family. Babe was active in his earlier years in the local Democratic Party and served as a delegate to the state convention. He was one of the original members of the SD Gasohol (Ethanol) Commission. Babe and his brother Don together built one of the first on-farm ethanol plants. He was a member of the Johnnie Fonken American Legion Post #113 and the VFW. He was a Lions member since 1967 where he held various offices and attended numerous conventions. He was a lifetime member of the Willow Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church. Among survivors grateful for having shared in his life is his wife of nearly 60 years, Phyllis of Willow Lake; sons, Allen Schmidt of Willow Lake, Terry (Brenda) Schmidt of Sioux Falls and Bob (Melanie) Schmidt of Willow Lake; grandchildren, Heather (Leo) Garcia of San Diego, CA, Michelle (Shawn) Poe of Sioux Falls and Michael and Garrett Schmidt of Willow Lake; great-grandchildren Calista, Elise, Aili and Elijah; one brother, Don (Helen) Schmidt of Willow Lake; brother-in-law, John Tomasich of Shawno, WI and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Melvin, LeRoy, Leo, Harvey and Larry; one sister, Grace; and a grandson, Erik. The Furness Funeral home at Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com