Nicholas Anton Schmidt

Nicholas Anton Schmidt peacefully passed away June 26, 2013 at the age of 84.

Nick, as we all have known him, was born Nov. 15, 1928 in Saskatchewan, Canada to farming parents Christina and Alexander Schmidt, immigrants from Russia whose mother country was Germany.

As the first born of six children, Nick was born responsible. Since German was his first language, he learned English in school, taught his parents to also speak. Nick helped support his family and officially retired his academic career after the eighth grade to work full time.

In his early days, he was a trapper, farmer, rancher and handyman near his home, but in coming of age, his aspirations and conservative ideals inspired him away from Canada to relocate in the United States.  

In order to apply for U.S. citizenship, he was first drafted into the Army to fight on the front lines in Korea. Upon returning to Malta he met his love, Jean Irish, whom he married on Feb.19, 1958. Jean had two children from a previous marriage, and the new couple produced five children of their own.

Nick joined the Teamsters Union, working construction on the east side of Montana for multiple years. In 1966, Nick moved his family to Whitefish to pioneer a new life. Although not an easy choice, with seven children to support, Nick was dedicated and wise. He worked many jobs to provide for his family, gas station attendant/mechanic/fuel delivery, bar tending, and working in the logging industry.

Nick’s skill set was staggering to behold! He built his own home and shop, stewarded his property, raised vegetables and meat, maintained his vehicles/equipment, appliances and more than one kid’s bicycle. If there was something he could not do, his children were unaware.

During the late 1970s into the 80s, Nick worked on the North Slope, performing various tasks for construction of the Alaskan pipeline. After 10 years and the children grown, it was time for well deserved retirement.

Always up for adventure, Nick and Jean moved to Trout Creek to rebuild their lives anew. Sadly, in the latter 1990s Jean’s health was diminishing, so together with assistance from their children, they moved to Port Townsend, Wash., to be closer and have the support of their middle daughter.

In a testament to his voluminous skill set, Nick lovingly learned how to do all the household tasks that Jean had performed for years, attending Jean patiently during her declining memory affliction. In 2009, Nick and Jean moved to Colorado to live with their eldest daughter. Jean still thrives in a memory care facility, in Fruita, Colo., where up until Nick’s passing, he visited her daily, living for the visits and the time they could still share together.

While Nick’s hard work did not result in material wealth, he was always grateful for the gifts of his family, and, for him, the true riches of this world; love, kindness, compassion, hard work, respect and humor.

His children never went without, and were always held in his loving support and deep acceptance. Nick will be dearly missed by his devoted children, through tears of gratitude for all the memories and time shared, for the opportunity to witness and participate with such a talented, kind and generous man.

Nick is preceded in death by his parents, Christina and Alex; his brother, Leonard; and sister, Rosie, of Saskatchewan.

Nick is survived by his beloved wife, Jean; sisters, Agnes and Alice; and brother, Tony, of Saskatchewan. He is also survived by his children, Nick, of Killdeer N.D., Janina, of Fruita Colo., Jennifer, of Port Townsend Wash., Jeffrey, of Whitefish, and Marianne, of Port Angeles, Wash. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Randelle Hamm and her family, of Oregon; Elizabeth, of California; Nickolas and Benjamin, of Oregon; Haley, of Colorado; and Nolan and Emmitt, of Whitefish.

Memorial services to be held in Grand Junction, Colo., on Sept. 27. Please inquire at Spanish Valley Mortuary, 435-259-3980.