George Schmit, 89, of Mitchell, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, at Firesteel Healthcare Center, surrounded by family.
Mass of Christian Burial was Saturday, Dec. 23, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell, with burial at the Church of Epiphany Cemetery in Epiphany. Visitation, with a prayer service and rosary at 7 p.m., was Friday, Dec. 22, at the Will Funeral Chapel.
George William Schmit was born Feb. 24, 1928, in rural Sanborn County, on “the farm” north of Artesian, to Michael and Lousia (Kersch) Schmit. George graduated from Artesian High School in 1947. He was drafted in the U.S. Army in April 1951, trained at Fort Hood, Texas, honorably discharged in 1952, and then transferred to the reserves from 1952 to 1956.
George married LaVonne Brutty on Sept. 5, 1951, in the Church of Epiphany. They farmed near Artesian until they moved to Mitchell in 1971. He also worked at Ross Laboratories starting in 1969, which became 3M, and finally retired from Toshiba in 1993.
He enjoyed going to auctions and spending time at the sale barns.
George is survived by his wife, LaVonne of Mitchell; two sons, Douglas (Roxy) Schmit of Spearfish, and Gregory (Dixie) Schmit of Sioux Falls; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Angeline Eining, Agatha Ebersdorfer, Raymond Schmit, Martha Stratman, and infant brother, Michael Schmit.