Elizabeth "Betty" Louise Schmidt

Elizabeth "Betty" Schmidt, 90, passed away on June 3 surrounded by her family at the home of her youngest son, Tim Schmidt, in Fort Collins. Just previously, Betty lived for several years at the Good Samaritan Society's facility in Fort Collins and was a well-liked member of the community there. Elizabeth Louise Lacy was born on January 24, 1927 in Chicago IL to Anna Louise Kenney Lacy and Kenneth Bowen Lacy. She received her degree in Agriculture, with distinction, from Purdue University in 1950, married another Purdue graduate, Eugene "Bud" Schmidt, and moved to Harvard IL, where the couple went into the flower business and started a family. She was an excellent flower arranger and devoted mother. Betty became very involved in Cub Scouting as a busy Den Mother when Bud entered a new career working for the Boy Scouts of America in Illinois. Betty and Bud then followed opportunity in a move to Phoenix AZ. Bud's career in the Boy Scouts also took the pair to Canoga Park CA, Bremerton WA, Brawley CA, Valencia CA, then finally retiring to Tucson AZ, where they lived for many years. Betty was always a creative person who particularly enjoyed crafts. Betty and Bud together founded Skycrest Ceramics, making unique and original designs of dollhouse miniatures. After Bud left the Boy Scouts, the pair traveled throughout the Southwest, successfully marketing their work at trade shows and building a solid wholesale business. After many years running Skycrest, Betty and Bud retired from the miniature business, then eventually moved to Windsor CO and finally to Fort Collins. Betty was preceded in death by Bud in 2014. She is survived by her son Kenneth Schmidt and daughter-in-law Robin Schmidt, of Onalaska WA, her son Andrew Schmidt and daughter-in-law Deah Sperling-Schmidt, of Huntington Beach CA and her son Timothy Schmidt and daughter-in-law Jonie Fidek, of Fort Collins CO. She is also survived by her sister Margaret Herbst of Germantown WI, her grandchildren, Jeremy, Erin, Jenna and Kaitlin, and great-granddaughters Emma and Casey and great-grandson Harvey. Betty believed strongly in the power of positive thinking and she met the trials of her life with determination and a positive grit that inspired many around her. She was thoughtful and kind, but also had a wry sense of humor. Betty was more likely to say "go" rather than "no" when a new idea came along. She enjoyed music, cross-stitch needlework, collecting Royal Doulton character mugs, traveling and visiting restaurants. Most of all, Betty was always a warm and understanding person whose presence was not always the loudest or the proudest, but always friendly and loving. Her voice, her thoughts, her energetic spirit and her beautiful smile will be missed. Memorial donations can be made to Pathways Hospice, Fort Collins, Colorado, www.pathways-care.org

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Elizabeth "Betty" Louise Schmidt

January 24, 1927 - June 3, 2017