Marsha Rae Schmidt

Marsha Rae Schmidt passed away on February 22, 2024, at the age of 79 at Westview Healthcare Center in Sheridan, Wyoming. She was born on September 17, 1944, in Doland, South Dakota. Marsha was raised by her beloved grandparents for five years of her life where she enjoyed farm life with her grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. After five years, her mother, Betty, relocated Marsha to Bellflower, California where she raised her for the rest of her childhood with her stepdad, Melvin Young, and younger brother, Mike. After Marsha graduated Downey High School, she decided to move back to Redfield, South Dakota where she worked at a local diner, worked in a psych institute, and did some house painting jobs for people. Her hobbies consisted of riding horses, riding bicycle, helping on her grandparents farm, reading, and a little bit of traveling. She saw life in South Dakota like heaven on earth. The diner was where Marsha met Carrol Schmidt as he was a regular customer. Carrol asked her to go on a date and few months later in 1974 they arranged to get married. They enjoyed married life, but yearned to have children. Eventually Melissa was born in November 1980, and then 11 months and week later, Christine was born in October 1981. Life has a way of getting rough.  Carrol lost his business and had to look around for other jobs. He traveled around for a while to find a good reliable job. He and Marsha made a new start in Gillette, WY. With stress of life, Marsha and Carroll divorced in 1986. They did the best they could to work together to raise the girls. Marsha was always very devoted to going to church, praying for her loved ones and friends. Loved taking the girls out to eat, to the movies, and taking trips out to SD to see family. While she was raising the girls, she worked as CNA at Pioneer Manor for a few years, then she worked at McDonald's for over 10 years, and then finally was hostess at Wendy's for a few years before retiring for good. Later on after the girls were grown up, she enjoyed all of the family going to church together, going shopping, and going on trips. The holidays were always spent together as a family.  When Marsha moved to the senior citizen apartments, she made some friends, loved going out on trips and Cam-Plex events with them through the senior center, visited friends in the lobby for hours, loved going shopping and out to eat with friends or her daughters and grandkids. Her other major loves were her cats and her daughter's dogs. Marsha was always an animal lover. In accordance with Marsha's wishes, her remains will be cremated. Funeral services and a celebration of her life will be at 1:00p.m., Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Gillette Memorial Chapel with Knute Johnson officiating. Masha will be buried at a later date in eastern South Dakota. She would love to have everyone dress in bright colors to honor her memory. As we gather to remember Marsha, let us cherish the moments we shared, the lessons she taught us, and the love she gave so freely. May she rest in peace, knowing that she was cherished and adored by all who were fortunate enough to know her. She is survived by her brother, Mike Young of Redding, C; daughters, Christine and Melissa Schmidt of Gillette, WY; granddaughters, Terissa (Dane) Hansen, Sylvia (Dominick) LaPlante of Gillette, WY, Elizabeth McClure of Gillette, WY; great-granddaughter, Delilah Hansen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Marsha was preceded in death by her parents. In lieu of flowers the family established a memorial to benefit the Council of Community services. Memorial and condolences can be sent to Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 W. 5^th St.  Gillette, WY  82716. Condolences can also be expressed on Marsha’s obituary page www.gillettememorialchapel.com.