Beloved wife, mother, sister, and grandmother, Mary Rosalyn Schmidt, age 77, of Farmington, passed away on October 6, 2026. 

Mary was born July 6, 1949, in New Hampton, IA to Hildegard “Tilly” (Orthaus) and Raymond Papenheim. She grew up near North Washington, IA on the family farm and attended school in New Hampton, IAwhere she met her husband, Richard. 

On October 18, 1969, Mary and Rick were married at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church North Washington, Iowa. They would go on to raise two children together and celebrate nearly 57 years of marriage.

Mary was known for her fierce independence and love of all living things. She adopted multiple cats throughout her life and any insect found in the house would be safely deposited outside. She was also a certified University of Minnesota Master Gardener and avid member of the Farmington Community Garden. Mary truly enjoyed volunteering at the Rambling River Senior Center greeting everyone with that unforgettable smile of hers, and her years volunteering at the Dakota County Fair. Mary enjoyed reading on the deck in the summer and going on nature walks. She even brought dog treats along in her pockets wherever she went, just in case she met a furry friend in need of a snack. 

Mary was a talented woman who loved spending time with family. Whether it was painting rocks into art projects, making homemade ice cream, or teaching her grandchildren to sew, garden and bake, she always had something fun (stealth education) planned for those she cared about. Through her creativity, her beautiful gardens, and the things she lovingly made by hand, Mary had a special way of making the world around her a little more beautiful. And perhaps her greatest gift was passing along that creativity and love of making things to the generations that followed. 

She is survived and dearly missed by her husband, Rick; her children, Tracy (Troy) Sund of Prior Lake and Michael (Lisa) Schmidt of Apple Valley; grandchildren, Rachel Schmidt, Eric (Grace) Schmidt, Calvin (Emma) Sund, Colton (Lainie) Sund, Thomas Schmidt, Hannah Schmidt, Elizabeth Schmidt, and Stella Schmidt; great-grandson, Theodore Schmidt; and siblings, Jane Phelps of Rochester, MN, Norma (Bill) Paumen of Depauw, IN, and Gary (Linda) Papenheim of Cedar Falls, IA. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Hildegard and Raymond; sisters, Barbara Thoma, Phyllis Larson, Elizabeth “Betty” Biwer, and Carolyn Papenheim; and brothers, Merlin “Butch” Papenheim and Paul Papenheim. 

There will be no local services in accordance with Mary’s wishes to be taken back to Iowa