Wanda Loraine Schmidt

W. LORAINE SCHMIDT BENZEL HEIL Wanda Loraine, age 83, went home to be with the Lord April 29, 2010, in Torrington, WY. She was born August 10, 1926, in Locust Grove, OK, to Mattie & Roy Fleming, as the oldest of 9 children. After the family moved to Reedley, CA, she met & married Edwin J. Schmidt. They moved to Monitor, WA, to raise their family and grow apples, pears, and grapes. She and Ed were happily married for 35 years. Loraine picked cherries with Ed & children, and for 30 years packed fruit in Monitor and Cashmere, WA. She also worked for JC Penney’s in Wenatchee. She belonged to the Monitor United Methodist Church of Monitor, WA, and later the 1st United Church of Torrington, WY. A devoted wife, mother, and friend, she was active with cub scouts, 4-H, and Sunday School. She loved to crochet, knit, quilt, fish, and to walk. She attended bible study, visited in nursing homes, square danced, organized family reunions, and enjoyed many card, marble & board games with friends & family. With her beautiful smile, she made many friends wherever she was. Widowed in 1982, Loraine married Richard Benzel of Torrington,WY, in 1983, to whom Ed had introduced. She was again widowed in 1990, and later married fellow bible study member Alex Heil in 1995. She spent her last 5 years in the Goshen Care Center of Torrington, WY, being kept company by Alex. Loraine leaves behind her husband Alex; children Jean (Don) Christison, Oakland, OR, Darrel (Dana) Schmidt, East Wenatchee, WA, Ed (Sue) Schmidt, Monitor, WA, and Barbara (Ron) Dukes, Roseburg, OR; brother Ken Fleming, CA, sisters Loneita Bender, CA, Lavern Gunther, CA, Helen Rice, OK, Wilma Smith, TX, Christine Allen, TX, and Linda Goldberg, NJ. Her grandchildren are Michele, Larry, Christopher, Hydee, Darrel Jr., Leslie, Cathy, Nicole, Jon, Angela, Stephen, and Joey. She had 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Edwin Schmidt and Richard Benzel, and brother William Fleming. The funeral will be Friday, May 7, at 11 AM, in the Monitor United Methodist Church, with burial at the Cashmere Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Goshen Care Center, Torrington WY

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Wanda Loraine Schmidt

August 10, 1926 - April 29, 2010