Date of Birth: March 3, 1949
Date of Death: June 5, 2025
Sheron Schmidt (nee Stecyk) was born March 3, 1949, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Melville, SK, the daughter of William and Olga Stecyk (nee Melnyk). She grew up on the family farm 4 miles southwest of Fenwood.
Sheron was the firstborn of six children. She quickly learned to milk cows so the family could ship cream to buy any food not grown on the farm. She did not like milking cows and was happier to switch to being the head nanny for her younger sisters and brothers.
Sheron started school at the age of 7. She usually drove the pony bus 2.5 miles to Konigsberg rural school. Mom graduated from Melville High School in 1968. Sheron
convocated from Sask. Polytech in Food Service Technology in 1970. In 1971 she attended the University of Saskatchewan and qualified as a teacher.
A very hot Sunday in August of 1965 changed Sheron and Grant’s lives forever. Once per summer, the Stecyk family would take time off before evening milking of the cows to picnic at Katepwa Park. It happened to be the one day each summer the Schmidts stayed off the ball diamond and went to the Hack cottage.
Grant and Rodger Schmidt waded across to a dock on which stood Marianne and Karen. On the dock sat Sheron in a black swimsuit; she looked like a mermaid. Marianne and Rodger already knew each other from school and each introduced their older siblings.
Grant and Sheron enjoyed their conversation that day until she had to go back to the farm for milking chores. She told Grant that they had no telephone, but he could contact her by coming to the farm some time, which he soon did. A girl like Sheron was hard to find.
In April of 1971, Sheron had completed her education, and Grant had one more year of law school. Sheron said to Grant, “I just can’t live alone anymore; let’s get married in summer.” They married on August 28, 1971. In 1972 there were no teaching jobs in the Melville area, so Sheron worked at what is now Royal Drug Mart for one year. Then a special education position came available, and Sheron would spend 9.5 years teaching. After taking some time away from education to raise the boys, Sheron went to Rail City Industries as a food instructor and supervisor.
Sheron chose the plan for their new house. She loved gardening; she did not consider it work as she considered gardening exercise. Due to Sheron’s Ukrainian mother and food service education, Sheron was an amazing cook. Sheron would talk to everyone and helped many people. She served on the Melville School Board, St. Peter’s Hospital board, St. Paul Lutheran Home board, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church board, was secretary of the Melville and District German Heritage Club and was a member of Melville Beta Sigma Phi.
Sheron will never be forgotten by her husband, Grant, and their sons, Kurt (Rosie) and Luke (Aimee). She enjoyed spending time with Kurt’s children, Brendon, Marla (Mason) Benning, Emily and Eva, and Luke’s children, Eli and Kaiya. She also got to see her first great-grandchild, Leo Thompson. Sheron will be remembered by her sisters, Marianne (Bob) Weber, Karen (Howard) Ottenbreit and Doris Green; her brother, Donald (Terri-Lynn); her sister-in-law, Laura Stecyk; brother-in-law Rodger (Kathy) Schmidt; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, David, and brother-in-law Alan Green.
Sheron lived a full life, having walked with the needy, lived with the common people, visited with Prime Ministers and travelled with Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and she never lost the common touch.
Sheron’s funeral service was held Saturday, June 14, 2025 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Melville, with Deacon Kevin Prouten officiating. Interment followed in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Neudorf district.
Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Melville.
