Katherine Schmidt passed away peacefully at the age of 101 on April 7th, 2025 in her own home surrounded by her family.

Katherine Schmidt (Zillich) was born on Christmas Day 1923, in a sod house on the farm her father homesteaded near Gladstone, North Dakota. Her parents and six siblings ran the farm through the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. When she was 17, she and her sister, Rose, moved to Oregon to help with the war effort in the Portland shipyards. Katherine worked as a Burner cutting metal for the warships.

In 1944, Katherine married the love of her life, John F. Schmidt. They moved to Dickinson, North Dakota to start their family where daughters Sheila and Melinda were born. In 1952 they moved their family to Washington State to be closer to relatives. They settled in Tacoma where she continued to run the household and in 1963, their son, Jeff,  was born.

The next 70 years she enjoyed spending time with family, gardening, baking, volunteering at the Lutheran Home and being an active member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church. Katherine had many friends, young and old, and was a mother figure to many. Among those were Barbara, her daughter-in-law who was deeply cherished; and Lily, her long time gardening partner.

The joy of her life was spending time with her grandchildren Joy, Nicole, Jessica, Hannah and John; and great grandchildren Caitlin, Jonah, and Milo. She always had abundant time to spend with them.

Katherine was a rare blend of elegance, humor, resilience and strength who made everyone she met feel cherished and loved. She always saw the good in people.

She will be greatly missed by many and remembered for her warmth, kindness and sense of humor.

As per Katherine's request, there will be no service.  Remembrances can be made to the hospice of your choice.