Betty Schmitz

Betty J. Schmitz, age 81 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Country Manor Care Center in Sartell, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 24 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Jeremy Theis officiating. Inurnment will be in Oakland Cemetery at a later date.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Betty Jane Marr was born March 26, 1940 in Corwith, Iowa to Glen and Dorothy (Delong) Marr. Betty graduated from Sauk Centre High School and furthered her education at Alexandria Technical College. She was united in marriage to Leon Schmitz on February 7, 1959 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Betty worked at Sauk Centre Public Schools, Sauk Centre Chamber of Commerce, Catholic Charities/Centra Minnesota, and was a supervisor for the Foster Grandparent Program.  Betty’s early life was one of travelling between Iowa and California before finally settling in Minnesota in 1972. Betty and Leon remained in the Sauk Centre region until Betty started wintering in Mesa AZ in 2008. Betty returned to Central Minnesota in 2018 when her health restricted her body, but never her mind and spirit.

She was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Sauk Centre Hospice Board, Sauk Centre Senior Center Board, Lake Area Volunteer Association, National Senior Service Corp., St. Paul’s Christian Women, and the American Legion Post 67 Auxiliary. Betty enjoyed being surrounded by family where meals/feasts were always a draw for those far and wide. Betty enjoyed traveling, playing cards as well as learning new card games. Betty also enjoyed the time with family and friends at Fairy Lake where ironically her life in Minnesota began in 1958 in a tiny house on the northwest side of the lake with the Marr family.

Survivors include her children Alan (DeeAnn) Schmitz of Emmetsburg IA, Randy (Angie) Schmitz of Prior Lake, Pam (Ed) Christian of Celina TX, Paul (Molly) Schmitz of Woodbury, and Laura Newman  (Kyle) of Sartell; 10 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren;  sisters Mary (Brad) Grems, Anita (Mike) Duncan, Linda Johnson, and Gene (Cliff) Garbett.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Schmitz on September 27, 2002, infant son, Leon Jr., as well as her parents Glen and Dorothy Marr.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Betty’s memory to the Catholic Charities, specifically the Foster Grandparent Program, Cancer Society or your local Hospice program.