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A private family graveside service for Darwin “Butch” D. Schmidt, 88, of Fairmont, Minn., formerly of Early, will be held in Union Cemetery in Early.
Darwin passed away Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, at Goldfinch Memory Care in Fairmont. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.
Darwin Dewayne Schmidt was born Dec. 2, 1937, in Sioux City the son of William Fredrick and Emma Kathrine (Hanson) Schmidt. He grew up in Anthon, where he attended school and graduated from Anthon High School with the class of 1956. Darwin lost his father at a very young age and that loss and the responsibility of helping his family shaped him into the person he was. His love and loyalty to his family was evident in his everyday life from a young boy helping his mom and his siblings to helping those in need later in life.
Those that knew Butch knew he was quite the dancer, and while attending a spring dance in 1958, his smooth polka moves caught the eye of Betty J. Mansfield. His knack for helping others came in handy as he was soon showing up to help Betty with chores on her family farm so he could take her out. On May 31, 1959, Darwin was united in marriage to Betty at United Methodist Church in Quimby. The couple was blessed with five children: Tonia, Roxanne, Robert, Todd and Jodie. The family made their home in rural Cherokee County and Buena Vista County before purchasing their home in Early, where they lived until 2020. Darwin and Betty then made the move to Fairmont, Minn., due to health issues.
Butch found great joy in living a simple life. He took pride in his work but also looked forward to cutting loose and having fun! Throughout his career, Butch worked road construction, helped numerous area farmers with farm work, worked at Hygrade Packing Plant in Storm Lake and for many years, was up before dawn to make the trek to Holstein where he worked at VT Industries until his retirement on April 23, 2009. Following his retirement, he enjoyed working for the City of Early helping wherever he was needed.
In his youth, Butch loved nights out with friends, playing cards, attending dances, making memories on snowmobiles and motorcycles, and pranking his friends. In the summer, you could find him out tinkering around the yard, hanging a birdhouse he built from reclaimed barnwood, tending to his garden and mowing his lawn along with all the neighbor’s lawns. He spent countless hours in his shop, with his grandkids once pranking him with smoke bombs making him think his shop was burning down. Butch relished the title of “Outlaw” at the annual family reunion and looked forward to trips to Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon and South Dakota to visit family. He was an accomplished fisherman, making sure others on the lake knew of his successful catches and enjoyed fishing trips to Bluffy Lake in Canada.
In his later years, Darwin had the opportunity to attend Walk To Emmaus. This gave him a new perspective on life that changed his heart and led him on a new faith journey.
Left to cherish his memory are his children: Tonia (Bob) Toomer, Robert (Sandy) Schmidt, Todd (Kristen) Schmidt and Jodie Schmidt; grandchildren: Chris (Jenn) Toomer, Beth (Abby Goodenow) Toomer, Jeff (Brandy) Toomer, Megan Schmidt, Michaela (Blake) Parkison, Michael (Emma) Schmidt, Matthew Schmidt and Emma Schmidt; great-grandchildren: Carson (Andrea) Toomer, Hadan (Allison Janssen) Toomer, Mckenzie Toomer, LeeRoy Toomer, Haylee Toomer, Brooks Schmidt, Ozzy Schmidt, Clara Schmidt, Jayden Schmidt, Landen Seeley and Alli Seeley; in-laws: Audrey Neiffer, Richard (Linda) Mansfield, Fayola Mansfield and Anita Mansfield; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Darwin was preceded in death by his wife Betty Schmidt; parents, William and Emma Schmidt; infant daughter Roxanne Joy Schmidt; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dale and Helen Mansfield; brothers: Norman (Leona) Schmidt, Gayland Schmidt, Darrell (Marge) Schmidt and Kenneth Schmidt; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Jean (Wayne) Ireland, Jim Mansfield, Keith (Alice) Mansfield, Harry Mansfield, Virginia (Tom) Gagnon, Linda (Ray) Flewelling, Gail Reinert and Judy (Edward) Gross; brothers-in-law and spouses: Norman (Leona) Schmidt, Darrell (Marge) Schmidt, Kenneth Schmidt and Gayland Schmidt; as well as other family.
Condolences may be left at www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net.
