Schmidt, Brenda Mae (1959-2018)

SCHMIDT, MASSOP, MORRISON, SCOTCHMER, KIES, KEENAN

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/18/2021 at 17:36:23

Brenda Mae Schmidt
March 19, 1959 - June 1, 2018

Our beloved wife and mother, Brenda Mae Schmidt, 59, of Missoula, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at home on June 1, 2018.

Brenda was born on March 19, 1959, to John and Marlene Massop in Storm Lake, Iowa. A fun-loving, non-judgmental, and caring person, she, always, put others before herself and lived to nurture and support her family. Born to be a mother, she had a particularly close relationship with her daughters and fount the utmost joy in her grandchildren. She was taken away too soon.

Growing up on a corn, soybean, and pig farm, Brenda spent her teen years “walking beans,” playing the baritone horn in the high school marching band, and cruising around in her 1962 Chevy Nova which she named “Norma.” After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls where she met her lifelong companion and best friend, Mark. They married on January 3, 1981, and welcomed two daughters, Kellie and Kristin, in the coming years.

In 1986, Mark received a job offer to transfer to Missoula, so they packed their bags and headed out West with the prospect of adventure in their eyes. Having, quickly, fallen in love with the beauty and the people of Montana, they bought a house in Lolo to raise their family. As a family, they spent their time camping, cross country skiing, traveling, and fishing, and they became active members of the Spirit of Christ Church in Lolo.

Professionally, Brenda devoted her career to providing both direct and indirect care to persons with disabilities. She lived by the mantra “See the person before the disability,” which reflected in her work at Opportunity Resources, Inc., Missoula Developmental Service Corporation, Western Montana Mental Health, and finally, the State of Montana DPHHS Community Services Bureau.

Brenda is survived by her husband, Mark; her daughters, Kellie (Chris) Morrison and Kristin (Sam) Scotchmer; her grandchildren: Ethan, Clara, and Jason; her parents, John and Marlene Massop; and her siblings Doug (Kate) Massop, Rachael (Wayne) Kies, and Karen (John) Keenan; as well as by numerous nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held at Christ the King Parish at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2018, with a light reception to follow at the church. Rosary and vigil services will be held Friday, June 8, 2018, at the Garden City Funeral Home at 6:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Brenda’s Nonprofit Memorial Fund through the Missoula Community Foundation at http://missoulacommunityfoundation.org/brenda-schmidt .

Garden City Funeral Home, Missoula, Montana, 2018.

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