Geraldine Ann Rathert-Schmidt, 91, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 10, 2023, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, surrounded by family.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Geraldine will be at 2:30 p.m., Friday, November 17, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Aberdeen, with Father Mitchell McLaughlin officiating.
Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Westport, following Mass.
A time of fellowship and refreshments will be held after the burial at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall in Westport.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, at the mortuary, with a 7 p.m. liturgical wake and rosary service. Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church.
Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be live-streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SchriversMemorial.
Geraldine Ann Dehne was born November 5, 1932, near Seneca, SD, to William H. and Rose (Gutenkauf) Dehne. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Seneca. Geraldine attended various country schools in the area and started high school in Faulkton, SD. She then moved with her parents to rural Columbia, SD, and attended high school there, where she met her future husband, Delbert Rathert. She moved to Westport, SD, and graduated from Westport High School in 1950.
Geraldine and Delbert Rathert married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Westport. They lived on several farms in the Brown County area. She enjoyed sewing and reading while raising her twelve children as a “stay-at-home mom,” which included sewing clothing for her children. She later became a seamstress at several Aberdeen businesses. She also thoroughly enjoyed dancing. After retiring, she enjoyed quilting for her family and for charity. She made a quilt for each of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Geraldine donated many quilts to various Aberdeen charities.
Geraldine married Dialo Schmidt in 2004 in Aberdeen, where they have resided since.
Geraldine is survived by her husband, Dialo; children: Gail Rathert of Aberdeen, SD, Clint Rathert of Mead, CO, Deanna Rathert of San Antonio, TX, Randy (Charlene) Rathert of Sheridan, OR, Bonni (Rick) LaBay of Westport, SD, Lance Rathert of Aberdeen, SD, Bret (Linda) Rathert of Waukee, IA, Bart Rathert of Aberdeen, SD, Kelly (Janine) Rathert of Aberdeen, SD, Marti (Deb) Rathert of Aberdeen, SD, Roger Rathert of Aberdeen, SD, and Kyra (Darwin) Kern of Aberdeen, SD; stepchildren: Randy (Patsy) Schmidt of Rapid City, SD, Dennis Walker of St. Michael, MN, Vickie Holmes of Clark, SD, and Kelly (Jay) Blair of Canistota, SD; 29 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jeanette Stenger of Indianapolis, IN, and Celia Vetter of Bismarck, ND; two brothers, Rich (Jan) Dehne of Hecla, SD, and Darrell Dehne of Pierre, SD; and sisters-in-law Guyna Dehne of Westport, SD, and Shirley Nilsson of Aberdeen, SD; and many nieces and nephews.
Geraldine was preceded in death by infant son Delbert Lee; her parents Rose and Bill Dehne; brothers Donald and LeRoy; sister-in-law Marlene; brothers-in-law Tom Stenger and Tony Vetter.
