October 17 1924 February 27 2020
Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Schmidt, of Grand Island passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2020. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The celebrant is Father Jim Golka. Burial will be at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday at All Faiths Funeral Home with a Rosary at 7:00. Betty was born October 17, 1924 in Fullerton, NE, the daughter of Adolph and Velma (Ostblom) Smaha. Her father passed away shortly before her birth. Soon after, the family moved to Lincoln. Betty graduated from Lincoln High School in 1942 and attended NU for two years. On February 23, 1946, Betty was united in marriage to Robert Schmidt at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Lincoln. The following year the couple moved to Grand Island. Betty worked numerous part-time jobs as her children were growing up. She was employed by the Bureau of Reclamation and later by McDannel Realty and Insurance for 28 years as secretary and realtor. In 1963, Betty helped organize the original Insurance Women of Grand Island, an affiliate of The National Association of Insurance Women. She served on numerous state and regional committees. Music played a big role in her life. She sang for her first wedding at age four and had her own radio show at age five. While in college, she sang with a U.S. Air Force orchestra at the Lincoln Air Force Base, doing dances, radio shows and entertaining in the hospital wards. She later toured the Midwest with the Ozzie Clark Orchestra out of Kansas City. In Grand Island, she was vocalist with the Harry Collins and Ed Lechner bands. Betty sang with the St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir for over 65 years and was a charter member of City Singers. Betty was an avid Husker football fan and tailgater. She enjoyed dancing, bowling and playing cards, but most of all she loved being with her family. She was a member of St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Cathedral Choir, Cathedral Ladies, the Platt Duetsche and Platt Duetsche Ladies Society, B.P.O. Elks #604 and B.P.O. Does #147, and the Grand Island Little Theater. Betty is survived by her daughter, Sandra (Mike) Tipton of Grand Island; sons, Gary (Pam) Schmidt of Santa Rosa, CA and Roger (Karla) Schmidt of Grand Island; ten grandchildren, Nichole (Lee) Ray, Stacy (Damon) Parker, Jeffery Tipton, Brian (Shannon) Tipton, Ryan (Michele) Schmidt, Robert (Sierra) Schmidt, Brandy (Mike) Raymond, Gina (Sean) Levesque, Clair Schmidt and Philip (Jessica) Schmidt; twenty-five great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Schmidt who passed in 1968; her parents; stepfather, Chick Byrnes and an infant brother. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Cathedral and Central Catholic Schools. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Schmidt please visit our Sympathy Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Elizabeth Ann Betty Schmidt October 17 1924 February 27 2020.
Death notice for the town of: Grand Island, state: Nebraska