Funeral service for Betty Lou Schmidt will be held 11 A.M. Monday, October 12, 2026, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wykoff, with Rev. Kay Wold officiating. Burial will take place in the Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Immanuel Lutheran Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Monday.
Betty Lou (Lenz) Schmidt, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Hospital – St. Marys Campus with her daughter Susan at her side. Those who knew Betty knew that she truly loved life and the people that were a part of it. Family and faith, along with shopping, were the things she valued most. Betty was also well known for baking the “Best” brownies.
Betty was born near Spring Valley, Minnesota to Ernest and Luella (Karver) Lenz on September 4, 1930. She attended and graduated from Wykoff High School in 1948 and went on to attend Beautician College. On May 19, 1957, she was united in marriage to Raymond “Ray” Schmidt at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and to that union, four children were born: Nancy, Susan, Daniel and Luan. Betty and Ray made their home on the family farm. They first lived in the one room school house where Ray had attended country school, then later moving to the “Big House” where Betty proudly shared with everyone that Ray was born in the bedroom they slept in. For the past four years Betty has called Spring Valley Living her home. She truly loved and valued her home there, and valued the employees and residents. Betty was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wykoff where she was involved with the ladies aid, the Woman’s Circle, WELCA, Sunday school. The annual church meatball supper and more recently, the waffle breakfast, were always a time in the church she looked forward to. Betty worked as a Beautician for over 50 years; she shared her talents with many local neighbors and friends, as well as the residents of the Preston Care Center. She was a great cook and baker, providing many people with cakes she decorated for their weddings and special occasions. She also enjoyed doing puzzles, crossword puzzles and making her own greeting cards and doing adult coloring.
Betty is survived by her children: Susan (Dan) Leisen of Rochester, Minnesota, Daniel Schmidt (Cheryl Brandner) of Fountain, Minnesota, and Luan Ruesink (John Fenske) of Spring Valley, Minnesota; four grandchildren: Sara Leisen, Kyle Leisen, (Nate Armstrong) and Tyler Ruesink; great-grandson Everett Ruesink, a sister, Ann Brandt of Grand Meadow, Minnesota; as well as several nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Bernice Stender of Blooming Prairie. Betty also considered Rialie and Gordy Paulman and J.J. and Hailey Fenske as grandchildren and Owhen, Jordyn, Aubrey, Drew and soon-to-be here baby boy Paulman as her great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond, infant daughter Nancy, brother Nevin Lenz, as well as several in-laws.
Condolences may be left at www.Hindtfuneralhomes.com.
Leave a Reply