Susie Koehn Schmidt was born on May 5, 1931 to Cornelious and Alda Koehn at Ulysses, Kansas. She passed away on October 24, 2020 at Mercy Hospital in Moundridge, Kansas. Having reached the age of 89 years, she is now awaiting the resurrection, the final judgement, and her eternal reward.
Times were difficult in the 30’s, and her family moved to Fredonia, Kansas, as her parents sought a place where they could provide for them all. After about seven years her father was advised to move to California by his brother, Minister Abe T. Koehn. So, it was in 1942 that the nine Koehn children and their parents moved to Winton, California. It was quite a trip with the speed limit being only 35 miles per hour.
When Susie was twelve years old, she got converted and was baptized on the confession of her faith by Minister Hirem Mininger on December 12, 1943. She embraced this faith all her life. She continued her basic education in the Winton Public Schools. It was at this time that California required children to be enrolled in school until sixteen years of age, so she attended Livingston High School for a short time.
Susie kept herself busy and was a very hard worker. After leaving school she worked in various places to help support the family. She worked in a nursing home for a time and had thoughts of going to school to become a nurse.
At 18 years of age, Susie was married to me, Edward LeRoy Schmidt on July 13, 1949. This union was blessed with seven children, four boys and three girls. They are all married, and we have thirty-two grandchildren and seventy-two great-grandchildren. Between being a farmer’s wife and meeting the demands of raising a large family, Susie was a diligent homemaker and carried a heartfelt concern for the salvation of her children. She could often be found out in the field doing what she could to help while also conscientiously keeping house and meeting her children’s needs. Since she was a splendid cook, she enjoyed sharing hospitality and often had Sunday company.
There were many opportunities to serve and she endeavored to serve the Lord in her varying responsibilities. Whether it was as a minister’s wife at our home congregation at Livingston, CA, and later at Willcox, AZ, or as a missionary in Mexico, Guatemala and El Mirage, AZ, she was a prayerful help in the work of the Lord. In 1988 we were asked to Pastor the small congregation in Willcox, AZ. We bought a farm there and lived on it until retiring in 1995.
After retirement we lived for awhile in the nearby community of Sunsites. In 2007, we moved to Halstead, KS, and for a time lived off and on at both Willcox and Halstead. As Susie’s health began to decline, we settled more permanently in Halstead with Susie moving into the Moundridge Manor in December of 2015. Being a very determined and active person most of her life, she found it difficult to accept her inability to live independently, but the Manor staff very graciously endeavored to help through this time. Prior to March 2020, I was able to be with her and cherish those days we could spend together reading, praying and listening to the singing at the Manor. We shared life’s joys and sorrows together for seventy-one years. God has richly blessed our lives together, and for this we thank you, Lord!
Susie was proceeded in death by her parents, three brothers and four sisters. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her husband, Edward; her children: Milton and Lucille Schmidt, Pearce, Arizona; Clayton and Marilyn Schmidt, Buhl, Idaho; Frances and Lonnie Medina, Buhl, Idaho; Margaret and Kenneth Conley, Halstead, Kansas; Glenn and Linda Schmidt, Willcox, Arizona; Daniel and Ronda Schmidt, Willcox, Arizona; Karen and Murray Wiebe, Willcox, Arizona; one sister: Rosella Millsap, New Plymouth, Idaho; one sister-in-law: Norma Koehn, Atmore, Alabama; 32 grandchildren and 72 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 29, 2020 at the Mountain Valley Mennonite Church, 3588 E. Compadre Road, Willcox, Arizona, with viewing starting at 9:30 a.m.. Burial will follow in the Mountain Valley Mennonite Church Cemetery. Arizona arrangements will be handled by the Westlawn Chapel & Mortuary in Willcox, AZ. Moundridge Funeral Home is in charge of Kansas arrangements. Memorial donations are suggested to Moundridge Manor, and may be sent in care of the Moundridge Funeral Home, PO Box 410, Moundridge, KS 67107.
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