Sue C. Schmidt age 78 of St. Peter, formerly of Redwood Falls and Mankato, passed away on Thursday, November 28, 2013 at her daughter’s home while surrounded by family after a brief illness.  Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 am Monday at the Presbyterian Church in Redwood Falls.  Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 pm Sunday at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church Monday.  A time of sharing during visitation will begin at 6:30 pm Sunday.  A private family interment will be held at a later date.  Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.   Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sue was born July 1, 1935 in Antigo, WI to Myron & Ruth (Nolan) West.  She graduated from Antigo High School in 1953.  On December 18, 1954, Sue was united in marriage to Robert Schmidt at the United Methodist Church in Antigo.  Together the couple lived in Wausau, WI for a year and a half and their son Dale was born there. They then moved to Stewartville where their son Charles was born and after a year, they moved to Mankato where they lived for eleven years.  The rest of the children were born in Mankato.  Sue began working as a nurse’s aide at Oak Lawn Nursing Home in Mankato.  In 1967, they moved to Redwood Falls where they stayed for 23 years.  Sue graduated from nursing school at Willmar Community College as an LPN in 1974, and as an RN in 1980.  Sue worked at the Redwood County Nursing Home and later the Redwood Falls Hospital for 15 years. In 1978-1979, the family hosted an AFS Student, Morten Reffhaug, from Norway.  Sue went on to lead the AFS organization for several years.  She also was the Superintendent and taught Sunday school at the First United Methodist Church, and volunteered for the Robert Milton Home while in Redwood Falls.  In 1990, the couple moved to the family vacation home on Lake Washington by St. Peter.  Sue worked at the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center from 1990-1997 when she retired in July.  Sue continued to fill in on occasion for the next seven years.  She also volunteered for Hospice in her retirement. Sue was a member of Job’s Daughters where she was an Honored Queen.  She was a former member of the Audacia Study Club and a Mrs. Jaycee.  She was a den mother for the Boy Scouts and was very active in 4-H in her younger years.  Sue was a very vocal supporter of Redwood Falls athletics, and enjoyed spending time with her family especially the grandchildren.  She enjoyed sewing and quilting, and made quilts for each of her grandchildren and her husband. She also enjoyed reading, shopping for Christmas, antiquing, and adding to her various collections.

Sue is survived by her husband Robert of nearly 59 years; children: Charles (Michele) of Oxford, IA, Gregory (Donna) of Glenwood, Bret (Heather Rigdon) of Fredericksburg, VA, Laura (Scott) Kohler of Redwood Falls, Cynthia (Craig) LaBrie of Redwood Falls, & Jeffrey (Teresa) of Hutchinson; Norwegian son Morten Reffhaug; 21 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; sister Roberta “Bobbie” Bonnell of Merrill, WI; aunt Lucille Skidmore of Antigo, WI; and many other relatives and friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents, son Dale Robert, and sisters: Jean, Norma, & Margaret.