Josephine Schmitt, age 100, of Custer, SD, passed away August 17, 2014, at the Custer Regional Senior Care Facility.

Josephine Carlson was born on February 19th, 1914, in Stockholm, South Dakota to Charles E. and Ella (Holt) Carlson. Throughout her younger years, she moved often throughout eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota, since her father was a depot agent for the Great Northern Railroad and was transferred often. Jo graduated from high school in Irene, South Dakota, attended college in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then transferred to Dakota Wesleyan College in Mitchell, South Dakota, graduating with a nursing degree.

Jo's first nursing position took her to Eureka, South Dakota where she met her lifelong companion, Ed Schmitt. They married in 1938 and remained so until his death in 2001. Their son, Vern was born in Eureka. The family moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota and then to Custer, South Dakota where they purchased the Home Auto Court. Jo continued her nursing avocation, first at the tuberculosis sanatorium at Sanator and then at the Veterans Administration Hospital (VA) in Hot Springs, South Dakota. After selling their motel, Jo and Ed moved to Hot Springs where Jo worked at the VA until her retirement

Jo was active in Bethesda Lutheran Church, Hot Springs Senior Center and volunteered countless hours at the State Veterans Home. She was a Gold Star Sister, having lost a brother in World War II. She was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Jo and Ed enjoyed traveling, taking several cruises and visiting Europe, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Alaska. In later years she especially liked to travel to Denver to see her son and his family. Jo also enjoyed cooking, baking and making pickles. The family especially enjoyed her Swedish potato sausage and German kuchen.

Honored to have shared her life are her son Vern and his wife Cheri of Littleton, Colorado; grandson Rick (Mary) Schmitt, two great-granddaughters, Morgan and Andrea, two great-grandsons, Garrett and Hayden of Parker, Colorado; grandson, Jason (Melissa) Schmitt, great-granddaughter, Avery, great-grandson, Caleb, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and grandson Commander Jim Schmitt (USN) (Kim),lgreat- granddaughter, Eva Josephine of Misawa, Japan. Jo was also close to her two step- grandsons, Kevin Stickney of Arvada, Colorado and Brandon Stickney of Missoula, Montana Jo is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews including her special nephew, Kenneth Schmitt of Mankato, Minnesota. Preceded Jo in death were her husband, Edwin, parents, Charles and Ella Carlson, two brothers, Vernon and Charles Carlson, and two sisters, Hazel (Odin) Stutrud and Doris (Sam) Smith.
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The family would like to express its gratitude for the wonderful care and support Jo received while living at the Brookside Senior Apartments, Pine Hills Retirement Community in Hot Springs, and the entire staff at the Custer Regional Senior Care facility for their kindness and attention shown to her.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 21, 2014, at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Hot Springs, with Rev. Gary Jacobson officiating. Interment will follow at Custer Community Cemetery in Custer, SD. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jo's name be made to Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1537 Baltimore Avenue, Hot Springs, South Dakota 57747.