Karl August Schmidt, 93

Pastor Karl August Schmidt died Jan. 30, 2024, at Orchard Ridge Assisted Living in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was born Feb. 21, 1930, to Hans and Margaret Schmidt in Killdeer, N.D. He graduated from Killdeer High School in 1947 and then attended North Dakota Agricultural College, graduating in 1952 and earning his Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in mathematics. From there, he attended Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary and graduated with his Master's of Divinity and was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church on May 25, 1955. He received his 50th Anniversary of Ordination on May 20, 2005, and received Pastor Emeritus from the Lutheran Church of the Master in Cd’A. 

He married the love of his life, Effie Tureen Swedseid Schmidt, on June 8, 1952, in Petersburg, N.D. They were married for 71 years. Effie preceded him in death on Dec. 23, 2023. Some say he died of a broken heart! Together, they had five children and fostered several more. Three children preceded both of them in death: Timothy Karl, Stephen Ralph and Samuel Lee. Survivors are their son, Kristopher Schmidt, and his children: Maxwell, Lilianne and Jackson; and their daughter, Karla, wife of Frank Bening, and their children: Brooke, wife of Tobin Broesch, and James and Makayla Bening; also great-granddaughters Kinley and Harper Broesch and Briley Bening.

Please join us for Karl’s Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Master, 4800 Ramsey Rd., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815. A reception will follow.

Please visit Karl’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.