Gladys Schmidt

Gladys Mae Schmidt, 85, of Nisswa, Minn., died Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at Good Sa-maritan, Pine River, Minn.

Gladys was born in 1931 in Brainerd, Minn. to Fred Olaf and Lillie Cecilia (Wallin) Anderson of Nisswa, Minn., where she grew up and attended school. She graduated from Brainerd High School in 1949. In 1950, she was united in marriage to Russell (Bud) E. Schmidt, Nisswa, Minn. Russell and Gladys made their home in Nisswa for 61 years where they raised their six children. They were owners of Interlake Dairy, a Land O' Lakes distributorship in Nisswa for 25 years for which Gladys ran the office and did the bookkeeping. After selling their business, Gladys worked for 20 years in the office at Viking Label in Nisswa. Combining her love for her family with being a third generation Nisswa resident, she developed a desire to record and preserve her family history. This provided valuable knowledge, photos and background while volunteer-ing for many years at the Nisswa Historical Society where she assisted with the collecting and documenting of the Nisswa area's rich history.

She especially loved family activities, fishing, deer hunting, snowmobiling, watching NASCAR races, traveling to the Rockies, Banff and Jasper National Parks, cooking and baking, studying the Bible, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Gladys was dearly loved and admired by all her family and friends, was always a lady, diligent and hardworking, and a spiritual person. She provided an excellent example of kindness, quiet strength, and of how meaningful and reassuring a welcoming smile can be.

She is preceded in death by her husband; parents; 3 sisters, Irene Hall, Doris Fauth, and Viola Jean Sherwood; 2 brothers, Carl Anderson and Clifford Anderson (infant); and one grandson, Lucas Schmidt.

Survived by three sons, Richard (Jane) Schmidt of Brainerd, Minn., Roger (Marthann) Schmidt of Harris, Minn., and Jeffrey Schmidt of Brainerd, Minn.; three daughters, Betsy (Robert) Hollister of Nisswa, Minn., Beverly (Michael) Bahr of Brainerd, Minn., and Judith (Marty) Roettger of New Richmond, Wis.; one sister, Mary (Loren) Bolton of Brainerd, Minn.; one brother, Fred (Marilyn) Anderson of Two Harbors, Minn. 18 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter from 10 am - 11 am on Saturday, December 3, 2016. A service will follow at 11 am at Brenny Funeral Chapel.