Wilda Colleen Schmidt, 89, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at her home in Fort Morgan. Wilda was born October 10, 1932, in Hayes Center, NE to Chester Martin McNutt & Pearl Estella (Mannschreck) McNutt.

Wilda graduated from McPherson County High School in Tryon, NE.  On May Day in the 8 ^th grade she had a first date with Delbert Dean Schmidt.  Wilda and Delbert married on June 15, 1952, in North Platte, NE. While Delbert served the following 2 years in the US Army in Japan during the Korean conflict, Wilda earned her teaching certificate and taught school at a one-room schoolhouse in Nebraska. After Delbert returned home from the war, both he and Wilda took classes at the University of Wyoming in Kearney and started their family. In 1966 the Schmidt family moved to Morgan County where Wilda was a mother and homemaker.  She also helped with family finances by taking various jobs. She weighed beets for the local sugar factory, was a substitute teacher, taught migrant school, worked at the Morgan County Department of Social Services, clerked at Gibson's, and was a guard at the local meat-packing plant.  When Delbert started his contractor business, she began assisting him by doing billing, bookkeeping, painting and wallpapering.

Always the entrepreneur, Wilda managed the local Park Terrace restaurant in the early 70's, and eventually purchased Morgan Merchandise Mart, a second-hand appliance and furniture store which she ran for years.  The Schmidt's built and remodeled many homes in and around Fort Morgan, and had a number of rental houses.  They remodeled their final house in 2019, still painting, and fixing things into their late 80's. Delbert and Wilda were married for 69 years.

Wilda was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, serving on the altar guild and in many church organizations over the years.  Her favorite activities were spoiling her cats, watching chickens, gardening, playing card games, sewing, quilting, reading, watching basketball & football, doing jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband Delbert; her daughter Lucinda Klinkerman; son & daughter-in-law Darwin & Deborah Schmidt; 1 brother, Leorice 'Bub' McNutt; 2 grandsons Joshua Mese & Alex Schmidt; and her parents.

She will be missed by survivors who include her sister Twyla (Wally) Dancer; daughter Connie (Greg) Mese; son-in-law Andrew (Twana) Klinkerman; 3 grandchildren, Aaron (Kandii) Mese, Bethany (Steve) Arnold and Dean (Aly) Klinkerman; and 2 great-grandchildren, Orin Mese and Levi Arnold; chosen family Lisa Bradley and Kathryn Wisner; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and their families.  A special thanks to her special friend, Kandii Cordova, whose kind and loving care made Wilda's final days so much better.

At Wilda's request, no formal service will be held. Family prefers memorial gifts be given to the American Cancer Society or Trinity Lutheran Church & School c/o the Heer Mortuary.