Dorene Kay Schmidt, 73, of rural Plankinton, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, at the Avera Weskota Memorial Hospital in Wessington Springs.

Prayer service with rosary was at St. John’s Catholic Church in Plankinton on Friday, Feb. 2. Funeral services were at St. John’s Catholic Church in Plankinton on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 10:30 am. Burial was at Union Cemetery in Belford Township.

Dorene was born June 28, 1944, to Ray and Edna (Stahl) Speck in Pierre. She graduated from Deadwood High School in 1962 and then moved with her family to Wessington Springs. She worked in Wessington Springs and Huron.

Dorene married Philip Schmidt on Aug. 24, 1968, in Wessington Springs, and to this union six children were born. They resided on a dairy farm north of Plankinton. Dorene worked as an administrative assistant at the South Dakota State Training School for fourteen years and was recognized as an outstanding employee.

Dorene was a talented woman, always willing to tackle the task at hand. Besides raising her own children, she also mothered others in need, and there was always room at the table for one or two more. She found joy in surprising her friends and family members with gifts in the mail.

Dorene is survived by her husband of 49 years, Philip Schmidt of Plankinton; six children: Michelle (Todd) Karst of Plankinton, Nicolle (Jeff) Jennings of Marshall, Minn., Matthew (Darcie) Schmidt of Kimball, Jonathon (Casey) Schmidt of Plankinton, Catherine Schmidt of Wessington Springs, and Elizabeth (Justin) Morrison of Mitchell; sixteen grandchildren; a brother, Larry (Sheila) Speck of Billings, Mont.; a sister, Linda (Allen) Clark of Huron; three sisters-in-law, Sherri Schmidt of Plymouth, Minn., Margaret (Leo) Koenig of Fairfax, and Mary (Lloyd) Potter of Pierre; her special cousin, Patricia Keeton; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was proceeded in death by her parents; father-in-law, Henry Schmidt; mother-in-law, Katherine Schmidt; grandparents, Paul and Margaret Stahl, and Edward and Rosina Speck; and brothers-in-law Tom Schmidt and Jim Clark.

Arrangements were with Basham Funeral Home.