SCHMIDT, Harold A.

Mohave Daily News, Mohave Valley, AZ - Published in Mohave Daily News Online from May 4 to May 11, 2011 - Harold A. Schmidt, age 86, an 11-year resident of Bullhead City, passed away Friday, April 29, 2011 in Bullhead City, Ariz. 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 relocated 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, Wyo. 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 the Rocky Mountain Flats project. Harold and Helen then moved to Casper, Wyo. where Harold went to work with Service Pipe Line (Amoco Pipe Line). During the next few years he took night courses at Casper College and received an engineering degree. The couple relocated to Midwest, Wyo. with the company in the early 50s 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 US, Europe, and Australia. In 1995 they began wintering in Quartzite, Ariz. 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 1563. He and Helen were chaperones for several of the national CYO conventions. Harold was also a member of the Elks, the 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 90s. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen in 2008; one daughter, D'lorah Marie; an adopted daughter, Betty Baker; his parents; his brother, Leo Schmidt; his half brother Freddie Schmidt; and two grandsons, Tony Schmidt and Nathan Baker. He is survived by three children; James (Susan) Schmidt of Sheridan, Wyo, Michael (Pam) Schmidt of Casper, Wyo, and Janet Edgecombe of Bullhead City; an adopted son, Homer Schmidt; two sisters, Eulalia Duran and Elizabeth Sutton; two half sisters, Charlie Novak and Donna Seniuta; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A rosary will be held Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Newcomer's Funeral Home in Casper, Wyoming. The funeral Mass will be held Friday, May 6, 2011, at 2:00 pm.at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Internment will be at Highland Park Cemetery. The pallbearers will be his grandchildren; Steven, Cindy, Matt, Veronica, Jonathan, and Christopher Schmidt.