Denise Lorraine Schmidt

Denise Lorraine Schmidt departed this world on August 5th, 2010, with her loved ones present.

Denise Lorraine Schmidt departed this world on August 5th, 2010, with her loved ones present. Denise was born August 4th, 1951 in Missoula Montana to Dennis Kendal and Muriel Holland. She was raised by her parents Joe and Muriel Holland in Plains Montana. She often talked about her childhood and how lucky she was to have grown up in such a unique place. She graduated from High School in 1969, and attended Carol College in Helena Montana where she met her husband James. They were married on December 30th, 1971. They eventually made their home in Moses Lake, Washington where they raised their three children Heidi, Jennifer, and Ryan.

While in Moses Lake she earned her A.A. degree from Big Bend Community College, a B.A. degree from Eastern Washington University, and a Masters of Social Work from Eastern Washington University. Denise held a variety of positions in Grant County including the Crisis Line volunteer coordinator, Life Style Editor for the Columbia Basin Herald, life skills instructor to the disabled through Step Industries and Program Coordinator for the Upward Bound Program. However for the past 27 years, Denise worked diligently to provide services to the most vulnerable of society - the children. She assisted in establishing and directing Assistance to Pregnant and Parenting Teens in 1983, a non-profit organization which provided support and education to young expecting mothers. Through her vision and tenacity she broadened the scope of the agency to include Head Start, Early Head Start as well as Family Planning and Parents and Children Together (PACT). The agency known as Family Services of Grant County has centers in Ephrata, Soap Lake, Grand Coulee and Moses Lake. Denise firmly believed in the power of early intervention and education to promote growth and change in families which would otherwise have no access to these services. To honor her memory and commitment to the children and families of Grant County, the building in Moses Lake will be dedicated as the Denise Schmidt Center.

Denise loved to learn and explore she was always up for a new adventure, which lead to different travels throughout the country. Denise also loved to read and write and in her free time she did both with a good cup of coffee in hand. Above all she loved her family and friends. She loved being a mother and especially loved being a grandmother. For those who knew Denise you could always count on her for a laugh, a story, a compassionate ear and good advice. She is survived by her husband of 38 years, James Schmidt, her daughter Heidi Gephart and son-in-law Kent Gephart, her daughter Jennifer Schmidt, and her son Ryan Schmidt, her three grandchildren Caleb Tachiki, Avery Gephart, Sylvie Gephart, her sister Joanna Turgeon (husband Dayne), her brother Johnny Holland (wife Dacy), her nieces Jessica Holland, Callie Turgeon, Emma Turgeon, nephew Mike Holland and her beloved cousin Beth Smith.

A memorial service will be held at the Wallenstien Theater (Big Bend Community College), 7662 Chanute St., Moses Lake, Washington 98837 on Saturday, August 21st at 2:00 pm. The reception will be immediately following at Denise Schmidt Center (Family Services of Grant County), 1402 Craig St. Moses Lake, Washington 98837. In Lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to Family Services of Grant County.