Catherine (Gefroh) Schmidt, the daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Wentz) Gefroh was born in the rural Karlsruhe, North Dakota home of her parents on March 12^th, 1918.  She died at the age of 96 years on Saturday, May 3^rd, 2014 at the Souris Valley Care Center in Velva, North Dakota.

Catherine was raised in the home of her parents and received her education in the Karlsruhe school.  On December 29, 1942 she was united in marriage to Leo Schmidt at the St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Karlsruhe.  Following their marriage the couple purchased a farm in Blumenfeld (Orrin), North Dakota where they farmed and raised their family.  Leo died in 1988.  Catherine remained on the farm following his death until January of 2013, when needing care; she entered the Souris Valley Care Center in Velva.  Catherine was a former member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Blumenfeld until its closing and then joined St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Towner, North Dakota and was active in the Confraternity of Christian Mothers.  She enjoyed working on the farm with Leo, gardening, quilting and being with family and friends.

She is survived by one daughter, Linda (Mike) Bischof or Minot; three sons, Gary (Diane) of Renton, Washington, Robert (Bonita) and Donald, all of Minto; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Christine Aftem of Minot and Regina Kuntz of Great Falls, Montana; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, Duane; and her parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16^th at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Towner with burial in the church cemetery.  Father Michael Schommer, Celebrant

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday with a rosary and vigil service at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Funeral Home, Towner.  Reviewal will be for one hour prior to the time of services at the church on Friday