Ryder Lee Schmidt, 11, passed away Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. He was born on Feb. 19, 2013, in Great Bend, Kan., to Chancy and April (Lofland) Schmidt. 

A lifetime resident of Great Bend, Ryder was a fifth grader at Eisenhower Elementary School. Ryder was very competitive, participating in all sports, being particularly passionate about football and basketball. He was a Great Bend Panthers Fan, admiring the high school athletes, and an avid Denver Broncos fan. Ryder had great interest in all music, singing and dancing. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working cattle. Ryder loved life, and was an outgoing, soft hearted, and kind person, selflessly donating his kidneys to two recipients.

Survivors include his mother, April Gatton of Great Bend; father, Chancy Schmidt of Great Bend; brother Deluxe Schmidt; sisters, Lynnex Gatton, Ava Schmidt and Johnay Schmidt; step sister, Koryn Ramsey of Great Bend; step father, Brandon Gatton of Ellinwood; step mother, Lesley Percival of Great Bend; grandparents, Jerry and Paige Lofland of Great Bend, Pat and Sharon Gatton of Ellinwood, Stephanie and Ronald Ahrens of Ellinwood, and Loren and Candy Percival of Grinnell; great grandparents, Gerald and Kay Wondra of Great Bend, Joan Young of St. John, and Karen Kramp of Ellinwood; nephew, Killian Bailey of Great Bend, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and loved ones. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Ron and Dorothy Schmidt.

Visitation will take place 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, July 8, 2024, with family receiving guests from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at Encounter Church, 601 S. Patton Rd., Great Bend, with Pastor Joseph Smeragliuolo presiding. Memorials have been designated to Ryder Lee Schmidt Memorial Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Rd. 

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 4, 2024