Fern Vida (Ford) Schmidt, 95, of Redfield, SD, passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield.

A prayer service and time of sharing will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 9, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield with visitation from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Fern's funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 10, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Redfield with Pastor Joy Proper officiating.  Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m.  Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.  Lunch will be served after the burial in the church hall.

Both the prayer service and funeral service will be live-streamed on the funeral home's website below Fern's obituary.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com).

Fern Vida Ford was born September 3, 1929, in Aberdeen, SD, to Henry and Hazel (Farnham) Ford.  She grew up on the Ford family farm north of Mellette, SD.  Fern excelled in school and completed both first and second grades in just one year, which meant she graduated from high school when she was only 16 years old at Mellette High School.  She was proficient at shorthand and secretarial business classes.  Her first job was as secretary at the Mellette Bank.  Fern met her sweetheart, Leonard Schmidt, in 1946 and they were married June 5, 1947, in Mellette.

They made their home on the Schmidt family farm three miles west of Redfield, living there until retirement.  To this union, four children were born of which three are living.

Fern had a 25-year career as Office Manager at the Spink County Conservation District in Redfield.  After she and Leonard were both retired, they spent the next 10 years traveling the United States and enjoying winters in Arizona with cousins (Kaisershots) at Lake Havasu City, AZ.  Summers over the years were filled with golfing at Fisher's Grove and walleye fishing at West Whitlock Resort where they had their second home.

After Leonard's passing in 2000, Fern continued going south and fishing at the river with the help of her family. Fern loved spending time with all of her family and enjoyed riding along to see all of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren participate in sport or school activities.

In their younger years, Fern and Leonard enjoyed dancing and bowling, Pioneer Community Club card parties, golfing, fishing, and travel adventures.

Fern was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, and participated in church women's groups and quilting projects.  Fern enjoyed being with her many friends while living the past 7 years at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield.  Other hobbies include cross stitch, piano, crossword puzzles (with pen, not pencil) and she was an avid reader.

Fern is survived by her children, Perry (Sandra) Schmidt of Redfield, Kaye (Kevin) Harr of Rockham, SD, and Marla Starr (Tim Alme, fiancé) of Huron, SD and Gold River, CA.  She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren; brothers: Jarland Ford of Knapp, WI, Carson Ford of Mellette, and Bill Ford of Mellette; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Leonard, parents, infant daughter Penny Lynn Schmidt, infant great-grandson Markus Gardner-Voegele (Shelley Voegele), great-granddaughter Mackenzie Schmidt (Matt Schmidt), and brothers Donald (Ruth) Ford and Roger Ford.