Marlys A. Schmidt

Marlys A. Schmidt, age 74, resident of Petersburg, ND, died Monday, January 10, 2022, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.

On July 10, 1947, Samuel and Freida (Geist) Schmidt were blessed with their fourth of five beautiful girls, Marlys.  In her youth, the family often moved around as Sam sought new employment.  This resulted in Marlys attending eight different schools as she grew up.  Because of all that moving, she developed the skill of making friends quickly.  (Little did she know how many lives that skill would touch during her lifetime.)  While attending school in Michigan, ND, she met a handsome local boy named Milton Schmidt.  This was the beginning of a friendship that would blossom into a love story that would last for over 50 years.  Milt and Marlys were wed on June 1, 1968.  After getting married, they spent eight wonderful years in beautiful San Francisco.  They then returned home, to North Dakota, and planted their roots in Petersburg.  There they raised two boys who were her pride and joy.  They each gave her one grandchild and she loved to heap on them that special love that only grandmas have.

Another special love in her life was for her savior, Jesus Christ.  She started her walk with the Lord around 1981 and became very active with Aglow Fellowship.  Who knew then that this walk would last for literally a million miles through more than 50 countries?  It will take a book to chronicle all her travels, but some highlights are:  Missionary work with End Time Handmaidens in many European nations and Tibet; China with World Missions Alliance; India with Love and Care Ministry.  As the years went on, she grew to develop a deep love and affection for Israel and the Jewish people longing to live there.  In 2006 she started a non-profit called House of The Lord to spread the message and raise funds to help Jews from around the world relocate to Israel.  This love for Israel manifested in dozens of visits there with Blossoming Rose, Return Ministry, and most recently, Ezra International.

Marlys was full of love.  She loved God, and she loved every bit of His creation.  She loved her husband, her sons, her daughters-in-law, her grandkids, her sisters, and all the rest of her large family, as well as a legion of friends all over the world.  She was full of love.  Abounding love.

Marlys will be deeply missed by her husband, Milt Schmidt of Petersburg; her sons, Michael (Shelle) of Grafton, ND and Mathew (Tina) of Grand Forks, ND; grandchildren, Mikayla and Jacob; step-granddaughter, Michelle (Andy) Belbas; sisters, Bettie Buchfink, Luella Otterson, and Virginia Schmidt; sisters-in-law & brothers-in-law, Marlys (Larry) Hoverson, Sharen Johnson, Connie Schmidt, Darryl (Wanda) Schmidt, Dwayne (Kathie) Schmidt, Sylvia (Greg) Daws, and James (Annette) Schmidt; dozens of nieces, nephews, great-nieces & great-nephews; and hundreds of friends all over the world.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Ilene Schmidt; brothers-in-law LaRue “Bud” Buchfink, John Schmidt, and Wendell Johnson; and a nephew, Kevin Olson.

A LIVESTREAM OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE AVAILABLE AT https://www.facebook.com/lifecogicnd/live_videos/

Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service.  The Memorial Service will be held at Gospel Outreach Ministries, 2587 S. 42nd Street, Grand Forks, ND, on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.  Interment will be in the spring at the ND Veterans Cemetery in Mandan. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to EZRA International or the charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marlys A. Schmidt, please visit our floral store.