Eugene M. Schmidt
Eugene M. Schmidt, 84, of Virginia passed away Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at his residence. Visitation will be Friday, November 26, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Range Funeral Home in Virginia. Visitation will continue Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. with Memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Chisholm Baptist Church. Pastor Dan Erickson will officiate. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Virginia at a later date.
Gene was born on February 26, 1926 to Edward and Elizabeth (Kenny) Schmidt in Fairmont, MN. He attended grade schools in Ringsted and Fenton, Iowa and graduated from Fenton High School in 1943. Gene served in the Army Air Corps from 1944 to 1946 with overseas duties in the Pacific Theater. After WWII he graduated with an MS degree in zoology from the University of Iowa in 1954. He did additional graduate work in Ecology at the University of Wyoming, Laramie Wyoming, the University of CA, Santa Barbara and University of Wisconsin, Superior and Mexico City College, Mexico. He was employed as a biologist and an instructor during his career. He taught high school biology in Burlington and Eldora, Iowa and Park Forest, Illinois. In 1957 Gene was hired as a biology instructor at the former Eveleth Jr. College and did so until the merge with Virginia Jr. College into the Mesabi Community College. He was an instructor in various biology classes during those years. He also instructed a course in Physical Geology for several years. Gene retired in 1990.
He was employed the summers of 1954-1956 as a Ranger Naturalist with the National Park Service at Teton Nat’l Park. He worked for many summers as a seasonal entomologist with both MN Dept of Agriculture and the Dept of Natural Resources.
In June of 1963 Gene married Beatrice (Andrews) Stevenson. They moved to their current home in 1968 and became the parents of twin boys, Karl and Erick that same year. They especially enjoyed many seasons at their lake place on Bear Island and also enjoyed traveling. He was a member of the Eveleth VFW, Eveleth Curling Club, the Virginia Elks Club, Northern Club and the Range Geological Society.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Beatrice; 3 Sons: Randy Schmidt of Waterloo, Iowa, Karl (Renee) Schmidt of Virginia, MN, (Logan)Erick Schmidt of Duluth, MN; 3 Daughters: Roberta Stolpestad of Albuquerque, NM (Blaine & Katie), Kathryn (Larry) Sandnas of Virginia, MN (Melissa, Melanie, Laura & Matthew), Karon (Tom) Urick of Virginia, MN (Kelly, Shelby, Natalie & Kevin) and 13 great-grandchildren.
Gene is preceded in death by his parents and brothers; Raymond and John.
