Our Mother

Susie Schmidt was born to George F. and Lizzie Boese Neuman in Pueblo, Colorado, October 27, 1900. She passed away at Schowalter Villa, Hesston, KS on May 13, 1991.

Our Mother came to know the Lord as her personal Saviour during a revival meeting at the age of eight years. She was later baptized upon her confession of faith.

In 1915, after she completed eighth grade, her parents moved to Aberdeen, Idaho with their family.

In 1917, at the age of seventeen, she married Herman J. Toevs of Aberdeen, Idaho. Three daughters were born to them: Elda, Dorothy, and Florence. Their marriage was happy, but short-lived. In 1924, our Dad went Home to be with the Lord after an extended illness. At that time, Mother left the farm in Aberdeen where we lived as a family, and moved to town with us. Elda was five years old, Dorothy, four, and Florence was eleven months old.

Living during the depression without her husband was a difficult time in her life. With the help of her family and our Dad's family, and by sewing for others, doing cleaning and other odd jobs, she was able to support us. Her dependence on God enabled her to go through this difficult period of time. God supplied both material and spiritual needs that others knew nothing about. She was a wonderful Mother, and she made our home  a haven full of love and joy. She taught us about God by reading Bible stories, teaching us to pray, and praying for us. Through this, each of us daughters came to know Christ as her own personal Saviour.

In 1929, Mother took a permanent position at the Economy Cash Grocery and Dry Goods Store in Aberdeen, a job which she held until 1941. At this time, she, along with Florence, moved to Newton, Kansas, where Elda lived with her husband, Walter Andres. Dorothy was in nurse's training in Newton at that time.

In Newton, Mother worked as a clerk in a couple of stores, and then took a business course. After taking the business course, she did office work. Later, she became a licensed practical nurse, and worked at Bethel Hospital and Bethel Home for Aged. She loved this work, and was very good with older people.

She held a position at Bethel Home for Aged until she met and married Herman F. Schmidt on January 19, 1951. Dad Schmidt was so good to our Mother. He was a wonderful husband to her, and was also so good to us daughters. They enjoyed a meaningful and happy married life together in their homes in Newton, first on S. E. 10th Street, and then at 909 S. Kansas Ave. During those years, Dad Schmidt ran the Newton Truck Dock. Mother operated a small milk house right next to their property. She sold raw milk by the gallon. Dad Schmidt owned a little Ford tractor and kept busy cultivating a sizeable garden in the back yard.

Through the years, as she was able, Mom taught children in Sunday School and Bible School. Jimmy, one of her grandsons, remembers his Grandma Susie teaching his Sunday School Class.

In 1987, the folks decided to move to Schowalter Villa in Hesston, KS. They enjoyed some good years there. After a time, Mother grew ill.

During her illness, we had some precious times with her as she thought about going Home to be with the Lord. One day during her last week, on two different occasions, she folded her hands and prayed. Both times her prayers were full of praise and thanksgiving to God. She clung to the verse in the Bible, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). At different times we could see her lips moving as she quoted this verse. She enjoyed hearing tapes of hymn singing and having us sing hymns to her.

On May 13, 1991, she slipped away from us and went home to be with the Lord. We will miss her, and Dad is very lonely without her, but we are thankful she has been relieved of her suffering.

Survivors include her husband, three daughters, Elda Andres and Dorothy Miller of Newton, and Florence Bartsch of Hesston, Kansas; one stepson, Paul Schmidt of Kansas City, Missouri, twelve grandchildren, five step grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, four step great grandchildren, and one brother, Sam Neuman of Hesston, Kansas. One step daughter preceded her in death.

THINK:
Of stepping on shore, and finding it Heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God's hand!
Of breathing a new air, and finding it celestial air!
Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality!
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm;
Of waking up and finding yourself HOME!
Hallelujah!

This obituary is the product of Elda Andres, Dorothy Miller, and Florence Bartsch. Slight editing by James T. Bartsch

Last Updated October 2, 2022