Brenda Lee Wade Schmidt, age 61, of Baltic, died peacefully under hospice care on May 18th, 2023, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls. Funeral services were at 11:00am Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at West Nidaros Lutheran Church, rural Crooks. Interment will be at Ss. Simon and Jude Cemetery in Flandreau. Visitation was from 4:30-7:00pm Tuesday, at Willow Creek Lutheran Church, rural Dell Rapids.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Sioux Falls Canine Rescue, in memory of Brenda. These donations will help cover the costs associated with caring for the fourlegged friends in their rescue program. Steve and Brenda have fostered many dogs and later adopted both Cash and Diamond from this organization. Donation details and online giving options can be found at https://www.sfcaninerescue. org/info/donate. Brenda was born on December 8, 1961, in Britton, South Dakota, to Duane and Sharon (Holland) Wade. She grew up in Britton and graduated from Britton High School in 1980. She then received her BA in English and Journalism from Augustana College in 1984. Following her graduation, Brenda began her lifelong career in journalism. She began with the National Hardware Association Magazine, and continued on with the Argus Leader (1985-2017), St. Cloud Times (1990), and the Moody County Enterprise (20172021). All throughout this time, she did freelance writing for multiple publications.
On May 5, 1990, Brenda married Steven J. Schmidt at Ss. Simon & Jude Catholic Church in Flandreau.
Brenda was a longtime 4-H leader with the Winter Creek Rangers. She enjoyed spending time and doing various activities with her boys. She also loved camping, traveling, reading, and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandkids. Brenda was a very active member of Willow Creek Lutheran Church, where she was president of WELCA, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, church council member, and deacon.
Survivors include her husband, Steve, Baltic; three sons: Austin (Shelby) Schmidt, Sioux Falls, Andrew (Caren) Schmidt, Bowdle, and Nick (Jolynn Adler) Schmidt, Florence; six grandchildren: Lily and Elliot, Everett and Ivan, and Brixlee and Jarrett; her mother and second father, Sharon and Orville Helgeson, Langford; one brother, David (Shantelle) Wade, Britton; two stepbrothers: Alan (Linda) Helgeson, Sioux Falls, and Chris Helgeson, Plymouth, Minnesota; Steve’s siblings: Barbara (Dick) Muckle, St. Paul, Minnesota, Robert Schmidt, Flandreau, Bev (Jerry) Austin, Keystone, Camilla Schmidt, Flandreau, Karen Schipper, Flandreau, Rick Schmidt, Flandreau, and Jerrelyn (Torry) Cole, Flandreau; many nieces and nephews, other family and her friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Duane Wade; her in-laws, LaVern and Minnie Schmidt; brothers-in-law, Jim Schmidt and Steve Haman; nephew, Drew Haman; her grandparents,Wayne andAlma Wade and Elmer and Esther Holland; and her step-grandmother, Almina Helgeson.
An online guestbook, condolences, and a full obituary can be found online at www. minnehahafuneralhome.com.
