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Mary Alice (née Nelson) Schmitz passed away on the evening of August 31 at the age of 97. Her last weekend was spent surrounded by family and celebrating her husband of 76 years, Dale "Buster" Schmitz.

Mary was born June 13, 1929 and moved to a dairy farm in Lindstrom at the age of six. After years spent away at college, teaching third grade on the Iron Range, and starting her family in Crystal, Mn, she returned to her family farm. In their home, Mary and Buster raised three children: Joel, Nancy and Heidi. They hosted many holidays for their extended families as well as sleepovers with nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mary served her community church, Trinity Lutheran, for over 70 years. She sang in the choir, delivered meals on wheels, coordinated wedding services, counted weekly offering money, helped design the new kitchen and designed a nursery room to start a kindergarten program.

Mary had a way of holding everyone together, she understood the importance of family, community and tradition. She was consistent, steady, faithful, loving and protective of the things and people she held dear. She enjoyed observing the rhythms of the farm, the ways the Earth cycled and changed in her 97 years here. She loved watching South Lindstrom Lake from her window and recorded the dates the ice went on and came off the lake each year on her kitchen calendar.

Mary is preceded in death by her daughter Heidi Rutherford; sister Dorothy (Sonny) Leisch; brother Lee (Mary) Nelson; and her parents. She will be missed by so many, including her husband Dale "Buster" Schmitz; son Joel (Krista) Schmitz; daughter Nancy (Phil) Voorhees; granddaughter Analee (Lorenze) Francisco; grandson Samuel (Tori) Voorhees; great grandchildren Genevieve, Fiona and Diesel; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Her funeral will be held on September 26, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lindstrom, Mn. The visitation will begin at 10 am with the funeral service to follow at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be sent to Trinity Lutheran Altar Guild or a charity of your choice.

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