Laura Schmidt

Laura Schmidt, age 100, of Worthing, SD, passed away on November 13, 2022 at the Ponderosa Assisted Living, under hospice care. Laura Adelaide Poppinga was born on December 16, 1921, near Worthing, the daughter of Bert J. and Alice M. (Timmerman) Poppinga. She grew up near Worthing attending rural school and then graduated from Worthing High School. She went on to earn her teacher's certificate from Springfield College and began teaching. Later she earned a BS Degree in Teaching from Sioux Falls College, graduating in 1973. Laura began her teaching career as a rural school teacher and then as an elementary school teacher in Worthing. She taught full time for a total of 46 years and then continued as a substitute teacher for another 16 years. Laura was honored to be named Teacher of the Year in the Lennox School District for the 1986/87 school years. In 1988 SD Governor George S. Mickleson proclaimed May 1, 1988 as "Laura Schmidt Day" for her contributions to education in South Dakota. On June 15, 1942, Laura was united in marriage to George H. Schmidt. The couple made their home near Worthing. Husband George died on March 12, 2000. Laura then moved into Lennox. Laura was an active member of Second Reformed Church, Lennox. She listed her hobbies as teaching, gardening, fishing and camping. Most of all, she deeply loved her family and helping her students reach their full potential. Besides her parents and husband, Laura was preceded in death by one brother, LuVerne Poppinga. Grateful for having shared her life are her two daughters: Cinda (Dean) Rippentrop, Chancellor and Carolyn (Doug) Hofer, Pierre; four grandchildren: Jeff (Teresa) Rippentrop, Jodi (Mel) Zimmer, Laurie (Derrick) Yeager and Jon (Michelle) Hofer; ten great-grandchildren: Bret Rippentrop, Courtney Bien, Kyle Rippentrop, Ryan Zimmer, Alex Zimmer, Sidney Zimmer, Jacob Yeager, Lucas Yeager, Grady Hofer and Rayya Hofer; three great-great-grandchildren: Parker, Nash and Oakleigh, as well as a host of other relatives and friends and a multitude of former students. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 28, 2022 at Second Reformed Church, Lennox, SD, with private burial in the Lennox Cemetery, preceding the service. Visitation, with the family present, will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, November 27 at Dindot-Klusmann Funeral Home, Lennox. The family requests memorials to charity in lieu of flowers.

Laura Schmidt

December 16, 1921 - November 13, 2022

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