Bernice Ruth Schmidt
Bernice Schmidt, 87, longtime Moses Lake resident and former school teacher, passed away Friday, August 2, 2013. She was staying at Emeritus Hearthstone in Moses Lake. A viewing will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Thursday August 8, 2013 at Grace Lutheran Church, 303 E. Nelson Road. Funeral Services will follow at 11 a.m. Grace Lutheran will also be hosting a reception in her honor shortly after the completion of services. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory.
Bernice was born March 30, 1926 in Anthon Iowa, daughter of the late Vester and Wilma Hayworth. She was married to the late L.M. "Schmitty" Schmidt on June 24, 1945 in Battle Creek, IA. Bernice worked for many years in various elementary schools such as Moville, IA; Smithland, IA; Logan, IA; Plattsburg, NY; Anchorage, AK; Moses Lake, WA. She also served regularly as a volunteer in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) and was elected president of the Alaska/Washington chapter of the LWML. Bernice faithfully played the organ throughout the years at the various churches where she was a member and taught Sunday school classes.
In 1974, Bernice and Schmitty moved to Moses Lake where Bernice continued her teaching within the Moses Lake School District. Bernice was active within the community serving to organize community concerts, participating at various local events as a volunteer, and actively serving as a member of Grace Lutheran Church. Bernice retired from teaching; however, she continued to actively participate in the Retired Teachers Association, LWML and other community organizations. She also assisted as an after school volunteer at Moses Lake School District.
Bernice enjoyed reading, cooking, entertaining and playing the organ both at home and at the many congregations she attended. She also played the organ at many special events and blessed the lives of many with her gift.
She is survived by one son, LPaul Schmidt; one daughter, Mary Lou Patterson; three brothers, Glen Hayworth, Ron Hayworth, Dale Hayworth; one sister Norma Oakes; four grandchildren, Brad Comley, Kristofor Okita, Heidi Schmidt and Heather Schmidt; and three great grandchildren, Robert Louis Comley, Wyatt Heber Green and Ella Kathryn Green.
She was preceded in death by her husband L.M. "Schmitty" Schmidt; daughter Cynthia Comley; four brothers, Stanley Hayworth, Dean Hayworth, Frank Hayworth and Leslie Hayworth; and one sister, Betty Thompson.
Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Women's Missionary League online at http://www.lwml.org/donate/ or by check to LWML, P.O. Box 411993, St. Louis, MO 63141-1993.