Frances M. Schmidt

Frances M. ""Frankie"" Schmidt, 99, Jamestown, North Dakota, died Friday, March 14, 2008 at Central Dakota Village in Jamestown.

Frankie was born on October 20, 1908 in Chase Lake Township, Stutsman County, North Dakota, the daughter of John and Bertha (Daede) Schmidt. On November 23, 1908 she was baptized in a school house by Pastor Martin Nesvig, a pastor doing mission work in the Medina, ND area. In April of 1909 the family moved to Sharlow township. She attended a rural school there. In October of 1918 they moved to Severn township and Frankie graduated from high school as valedictorian of her class on May 21, 1927, the night Colonel Lindberg flew across the Atlantic Ocean. She attended Jamestown College for three months in the summer of 1927, having received a $400 scholarship from the college. She started teaching October 3, 1927 in a rural school in Alexander township, Stutsman County, ND. She also taught one year in Sinclair township, Stutsman County (in the school which is now part of the Frontier Village in Jamestown) and five years in Homer township, Stutsman County.

From June 1934 to June 1942 she worked at the North Dakota State Hospital. She was in charge of Ward B West and later worked in the Hydro Therapy treatment center. In June 1942 to October 1942 she worked as a practical nurse at the Jamestown Hospital. In October 1942 she accepted a position as bookkeeper at Bridgeman Russell Creamery which was then called Equity Creamery and Cass Clay Creameries. She worked there for 20 years.

She was extended a call as a lay person on January 1, 1962 to become a Parish Worker and secretary at St. John's Lutheran Church in Jamestown. During this time she was commissioned as a Parish Worker by the American Lutheran Church headquartered in Minneapolis. In August if 1969 she accepted a call to be a Parish Consultant to the American Lutheran Church's National Office in Minneapolis. Her job was to survey door to door for new church development. She made some 238 surveys throughout a 24 state area. She canvassed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, Mexico to Canada, traveling in her 1969 Ford Maverick. It was said that by the time the young employees got on the street, Frankie had already completed half a day's work. After 4 years she retired back to her home in Jamestown, but continued to work parttime for the mission until 1979. She then retired and was Volunteer Parish Worker for Atonement Lutheran Church in Jamestown for 10 years. She succeeded this by working for another 11 years for the Lutheran Social Services as a Senior Companion.

She taught Sunday School for 51 years through 3 generations of families at the Millarton Church (that now sits at Frontier Village), St. John's Lutheran Church and Atonement Lutheran Church. She was a member of Atonement Lutheran Church and the Evangelism Committee, the Sarah Circle, the Jamestown Hospital Auxiliary, the Supervisory Committee of First Community Credit Union since 1973, and the Tele-Care of Jamestown Hospital since 1973. She had done volunteer work for the Democratic party, Garden Club, the 1883 Courthouse Committee and helped write the history of Jamestown in ""Century of Stories"" and the Montpelier 100 Anniversary Book. Frankie has repeatedly been given special recognition by numerous organizations for her volunteer hours. She will be greatly missed by this community and the scores of people whose lives she has touched.

Frankie is survived by a niece, Darlene (Stan) Christensen, Osh Kosh, WI and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Arthur; and one sister, Josephine McGinty.

Funeral Service: 10:30 AM, Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at Atonement Lutheran Church, Jamestown, with Pastor Steve Berntson officiating.

Visitation: 1:00 to 5:00 PM, Monday, March 17, 2008 at the Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown, ND.

Burial: Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown, North Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Atonement Seminarian Fund or to the charity of your choice.