Lee Benedict Schmid

Lee Benedict Schmid, beloved husband, father and brother died on Thursday, March 26 as a result of complications from congestive heart failure. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Reverend Blane Wasnie, OSB, on Monday, March 30th at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Avon, Minnesota.
Lee led a long and fulfilling life in Avon. He was born on October 10, 1923 in Avon, to Ed and Luella (Roche) Schmid. He married Ida Mae Loso “Mazie” on June 29, 1946. Lee and Mazie were happily married for 55 years and raised 9 children in Avon.
Lee graduated high school from St. Cloud Tech and attended one year of business college in Minneapolis, before he was drafted into the army. Lee served his country in WW II from 1943 to 1946. After the army, Lee returned to Avon to run the family dairy farm. It is on the family farm where Lee and Mazie were blessed with nine children and instilled in them the importance of work ethic and strong values.
Lee began working at Avon Lumber on January 1, 1969, where he was a sales associate in charge of farm sales. Lee was widely recognized for his proficiency in numbers and mathematics. It was often said that Lee was faster than any calculator. Lee proudly worked at the lumber yard for Terry and Judy Schmid for 37 years, retiring on December 23, 2005, at the age of 82. Several of Lee’s children also worked at the lumber yard, which filled Lee with pride and joy, and perhaps some trepidation.
Lee was a man of few words, and believed that actions spoke louder than words. Lee volunteered for the St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. Lee and Mazie also served the community by volunteering for Meals on Wheels for many years.
Surviving Lee are his children Lynn (George) Tchouban, Denver, CO; Sue (James) Svoboda, Fresno, CA; Patty (Bob) Kleinart, St. Cloud, MN; Mary Kay Schmid, Avon, MN; Laurie (Frank) Brown, Ogden, UT; Kim Schmid, Minneapolis, MN; Ron Schmid, Littleton, CO; and Kristie (Mark) Schmid, Edina, MN; siblings Lois Buettner and Donald Schmid; 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
Lee was preceded in death by his wife Mazie, son Larry, his parents, brother Bill and sister Dorothy.