Harold Schmidt

Harold A. Schmidt, 86, passed away April 29, 2011 in Bullhead City, Arizona. Harold was born April 2, 1925 in Douglas, Wyoming to Ted and Vera Schmidt. Harold grew up on his father's ranch until the third grade when he went to school in Washington DC with his aunt's family, the Keegans. The next year, he located to New York City where he lived with another aunt, E. Lillian Schmidt while attending Salesian High School. He returned to Wyoming during the summers. In 1942, when he was 17, he enlisted in the navy and served aboard the USS Briscoe until 1946. After the war, he briefly returned to New York to complete his final school requirements and then moved back to Douglas, Wyoming where he went to work for Stanolin Oil Company. It was here that he met and married Helen Oskins on April 6, 1947 at St. James Catholic Church. Harold left Stanolin Oil in 1949 and after briefly living at the Schmidt Brothers Ranch north of Douglas, he went to work for Pacific Engineers in Denver, Colorado as a purchasing agent for Rocky Mountain Flats project. Harold and Helen then moved to Casper Wyoming where Harold went to work with Service Pipe Line (Amoco Pipeline). During the next few years he took night courses at Casper College and received an engineering degree. The couple relocated to Midwest, Wyoming with the company in the early 50's until 1957 when they moved back to Casper to raise their family. Harold continued working for Amoco until retirement in 1985. After retirement, he and Helen traveled extensively around the U.S, Europe and Australia. In 1995 they began wintering in Quartzite, Arizona until 2000 when they changed their winter home to Bullhead City where they purchased a second home.
Harold was very active in his parish community of St. Anthony's. He was a past State Deputy and State Master in the Knights of Columbus Council 1553. He and Helen were chaperones for several of the national CYO conventions. Harold was also a member of the Elks, American Legion, the VFW, the Wyoming Engineering Society, and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. Additionally, he ran the family ranches north of Douglas, as well as the H&H Ranch near Glendo until they were sold in the late 90's.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 2008, his parents, his brother Leo Schmidt, his half brother Freddie Schmidt, one daughter D'lorah Marie, an adopted daughter Betty Baker, and two grandsons Tony Schmidt and Nathan Baker.
He is survived by two sisters Eulalia Duran and Elizabeth Sutton; two half sisters Charlie Novak and Donna Senuita; three children James (Susan) Schmidt of Sheridan, Michael (Pam) Schmidt of Casper, and Janet Edgecombe of Bullhead City, an adopted son Homer Schmidt, seven grandchildren and seven great-grand children.
A rosary will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home in Casper Wyoming on Thursday May 5, 2011 at 7pm. The funeral mass will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Friday, May 6th, at 2pm. Internment will be at Highland Park Cemetery. The pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Steven, Cindy, Matt, Veronica, Johnny and Christopher Schmidt. Memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus Charitable Trust.