HAYS — Donna J. Schmidt, 74, died Dec. 7 at Hays Medical Center. Born April 20, 1938, in Hutchinson, she was the daughter of Henry Oscar and Hertha Elsa (Reiswig) White. She grew up and attended high school in Hutchinson. On Dec. 20, 1959, she married Richard E. “Rich” Schmidt in Hutchinson.  He died on Oct. 26, 1998. She and her husband owned and operated Al’s Chickenette in Hays, from 1976 to 2010.    She received a nursing degree at Fort Scott and worked at Central Kansas Hospital in Great Bend for a few years.  She moved to Hays in 1976 and received an accounting degree from Fort Hays State College.  
Mrs. Schmidt was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hays. She enjoyed doing family genealogy and china painting.
Survivors include two sons, David Allen Schmidt and wife Cindy of Hays, and Noel R. Schmidt of Hays; one daughter, Lina Miller and husband Cliff, of Hays; one foster child, Randy Schmidt of Rossville, Ga.; one brother, Larry O. White of Parker, Colo.; one sister, Carla Dinneen and husband Charles, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; nine grandchildren, Aaron Shoemaker, Brandy Clifford, Stephanie Shoemaker, Brian Shoemaker, Dawn Rush, Sheena Miller, Shelly Miller, Dakota Schmidt, and Blaine Schmidt; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 2703 Fort Street in Hays. Burial will be at Mount Allen Cemetery in Hays. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Monday, at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, and from 9-10 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hays. Condolences can be sent via e-mail to clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net


Funeral arrangements provided by
Cline’s Mortuary of Hays & Victoria*
1919 E. 22nd St.; P.O. Box 252
Hays, KS 67601-0252
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 9, 2012