Carolyn Jean Holm-Schmidt

Carolyn Jean Holm-Schmidt was born on January 6, 1945 to Ella and Leif Holm. She grew up in Scotland, South Dakota. In 1962, she graduated from Scotland High School. For a time, she worked at the Sportsman Cafe for Randall and Joyce Hosterman. She began to work as a dietitian at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Carolyn enjoyed her job and would continue to work there for several decades until her retirement and return to her hometown of Scotland. On June 15, 2002, Carolyn was united in marriage to Melvin Schmidt and together they made their home in the Holm family home in Scotland.
Carolyn’s siblings, nieces, and nephews were truly precious to her. Her love for her family and photography were evident in her numerous bookshelves housing entire scrapbooks devoted to each and every niece and nephew. She could always be found with a camera in hand, be it at special celebrations such as at every holiday or family event to everyday occasions and get-togethers. Photography was Carolyn’s passion and she devoted herself to chronicling everything she could, taking hundreds of photos of Zion Lutheran Church functions, the building of local bridges and structures, friend’s birthday parties and anniversaries, and even from within the halls of Sacred Heart Hospital.
On Sunday, January 1, 2017 at her home in Scotland, Carolyn went home to be with her maker having attained the age of 71 years, 11 months, and 26 days.
She is survived by her husband Melvin Schmidt of Scotland; brother George Holm of Scotland; sisters: Nellie (Norman) Maruska of Scotland, Marilyn (Melvin) Gimbel of Pahrump, NV, Evelyn (Dwayne) Werkmeister of Armour, SD, and Pamela (H. Victor Jr.) Settje of Scotland; nieces: Deborah (Marvin) Kruse of Scotland, Deloris Maruska of Scotland, Lt. Colonel Kathy (Lt. Colonel James) Duke of Travis Air Force Base, CA, Carrie (David) Karki of Watertown, SD, and Sherry (Zeth) Gaskins of Yankton; nephews: Steve (Renee) Maruska of Scotland, James (fiancee Tammy Rueb) Maruska of Scotland, Robert (Jessica) Gimbel of Mitchell, SD, Victor (Fancy) Settje of Scotland, Fred Settje of Scotland, John Settje of Scotland, and Nickolas Settje of Scotland; great-nieces and nephews: Kalen Maruska, Katelyn Fischer, Kourtney Rueb, Peyton Rueb, Carli Maruska, Matthew Maruska, Makalob Maruska, John Duke, Kassidy Kruse, Jesse Kruse, Elizabeth Duke, Quincey Gaskins, Drace Gaskins, Lyken Settje, and Ryatt Settje; aunts: Dagney Stevenson of Scotland and Violet Simek of Tyndall; and many cousins and friends.
She was preceded into Heaven by her parents, sister Linda Holm, brother Melvin Holm, great-nephew Harold V. Settje III, maternal grandparents George and Sara Stillman, paternal grandparents Claus and Eli Holm, and many aunts and uncles.