Obituary of Robert Smidt
Newspaper: Yakima Herald-Republic (WA)Published Date: 16 May 2010
Robert Smidt
Keith & Keith Funeral Home
LONGVIEW - Robert Smidt died April 30, 2010 at Community Home Health and Hospice in Longview, WA. He was born on the family farm in Freeman, South Dakota on June 27, 1923 to Jess F Smidt and Wilhelmina (Vetter) Smidt. The family moved West, settling in Selah in 1939. Bob graduated from Selah High School in 1942 and went to WSU. He was drafted in July 1945 and served in the Army until Dec. 1946.
Bob married Delpha M Jahnke on Dec. 3, 1945. After Bob's discharge from the Army, they moved to Pullman where Bob earned a BS in agriculture and education. He taught in Pateros, WA for three years. In 1953 the family returned to Selah and began fruit ranching in partnership with Bob's brother Ted. They were very ingenious and built much of their own farm equipment, including a sprayer, an orchard mower built on a car chassis, a wind machine, an apple packing system and CA warehouse. He and Delpha retired in 1991 and moved into Selah. He could fix anything and enjoyed volunteering at the Central Washington Agriculture Museum, restoring a 1928 Chevrolet flatbed truck originally used on the farm by his parents.
Bob was a man of deep Christian faith and served in many capacities as an active member of Peace Lutheran Church in Selah. He was preceded in death by his wife Delpha. He is survived by three daughters: Lois A Sturdivant of Kelso, WA, Ruth M Browning of Longview, WA and Mary L Smidt of Ballwin, MO, two granddaughters and one great-grandson; and his brother Theodore R Smidt of Yakima.
A memorial service will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, 91 Wernex Loop, Selah, WA at 3:00 pm on Saturday, May 22, 2010. Memorial contributions may be made to Peace Lutheran Church in memory of Robert Smidt. To share a memory of Robert, visit www.keithandkeith.com.
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