Alvina Marie Schmitt, 93, Sidney, MT

Funeral services were held Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sidney, MT with Pastor John Baseley presiding. Visitation was Friday, March 3, 2023 from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., at Fulkerson-Stevenson Memorial Chapel, Sidney, MT. Fulkerson-Stevenson Funeral Home, Sidney, MT is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com.

Alvina (or "Vini" as her siblings called her) was born Dec. 14, 1929, to Henry and Annie (Sheetz) Rau, Sidney, MT. I was told that Alvina was usually the babysitter for her younger brothers and sisters growing up.

She met Fred Schmitt after he returned home from the Pacific after WWII, and they were married in 1948 in that church still standing behind Sidney Carburetor & Electric.

Fred first worked in construction for Jay Lalonde, and later rented many of his farms in the Sidney and Fairview communities. Until purchasing half of the (Grandpa) Felipe Schmitt estate acreage in 1961. They sold the estate in 1965, and then purchased the 7-acre home area, still the home base.

Tom, the first born, was born in 1951 living on the family farm. Wayne followed shortly after in 1962. In fact, Wayne was born the very night before the family moved to the Sidney Schmitt estate farm.

Alvina was a farm wife and mother who occasionally took up other professions. She worked briefly at Jerry's Market a local grocery store in Sidney. She was a wonderful and loving mother who always had a caring ear for her son's interests and wishes, while Fred was more strict – they were a good complement to each other.

Alvina was a wonderful homemaker, and the family especially appreciated her homemade cherry pie almost every Sunday.

She enjoyed crochet knitting and painting pictures. She had her artwork throughout the house and in fact had a few paintings hanging in the VFW Club for years in the '70s and '80s. Alvina was an avid church goer and attended church every Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sidney, MT as long as her legs could get her there.

Alvina had some physical health problems including a few strokes. Her physical therapist was always amazed at how hard she would work on her therapies. As Alvina got older, she struggled with her health, seeing multiple doctors until settling at Valley View Home, Glasgow, MT. After many years of battling health problems, Alvina passed away on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 with loved ones by her side.

Alvina was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Annie (Sheetz) Rau, Sidney , MT; husband Fred Schmitt, brothers Melvin "Sonny" and Albert, Sidney, MT; Jim, Almer and Erna Rau, (whom Alvina thought of as a sister), Glendive, MT; sisters, Alice Strasheim, Terry, MT; Emma Erick, Billings, MT, and Shirley Price, Glendive, MT.

She is survived by her sons, Tom and Wayne Schmitt, Sidney, MT and three sisters: Joanne Hagler, Savage, MT; Donna Webber, Sidney, MT; and Carol (Dennis) Herbolsheimer, Denver, CO.