Richard G. Schmidt

He went to school in Chicago attending Tilden Tech, an all-boys high school of 5,000. In 1945 (his senior year) he moved to Kittitas, WA and lived with relatives where he graduated in a class of 13. He enjoyed the smaller school and the opportunity to play a lot of sports. Dick was an avid golfer, starting to caddy at age 14 in Chicago. He was on the golf teams in high school and college. He played golf at the Elks for over 50 years. He also enjoyed watching all sports, playing cards, telling jokes and had a good sense of humor.

Dick joined the US Army in 1946 and served 20 months in Korea near the 38th parallel as a guard. After being honorably discharged, he attended college at Yakima Valley College and graduated with a business degree from Ellensburg Central (CWU) in 1951.

Shortly after graduating from college he met the love of his life, AnnaBelle Lessard. They were married April 26, 1952 and moved to Chicago where he worked for a major corporation. While in Chicago their first child, Dale Francis, was born. When Dale was 4 ½ weeks old they were transferred to Tacoma, WA. After one year in Tacoma, they decided to move to Yakima, WA. where they could be near family. Dick took a job with Sherwood and Roberts, where he was a finance manager for Fairway Finance until October 1970. During his time at Sherwood and Roberts Dick and Ann had 3 more children, Caryn, Glenda and Brian.

In October 1970 Dick and Ann started their own business, Evergreen Collection and Check Service. The whole family had worked at Evergreen Collection in some capacity during high school and college. When Dick and Ann retired Dale and his wife Judy purchased Evergreen.

Dick belonged to the Elks, the Exchange Club, Gyro Club (served as president) and the Washington Collectors Association (WCA) of which he was president 1983-1984.

Dick and Ann travelled the world including London, China, Paris, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and the Mediterranean. They enjoyed cruising the Mexican Riviera, Mexico, Caribbean, and the South Pacific. They wintered in Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs for 30 years. In 1989 they took up RV’ing and traveled around the US, Canada, and Mexico.

They belonged to the Elks Sunchasers Club and went on many weekend outings. They traveled to each state and visited many friends and family along the way. In 1991 they purchased a lot at Outdoor Resorts in Cathedral City, CA. where they spent 20 years living in motor homes and a 5th wheel for the winter. They made many lifelong friends and enjoyed many parties, pot-lucks, plays, short trips and entertaining.

In the spring of 2011, Dick suffered a stroke which put him in a nursing home for 5 weeks. He was very happy to return home but after 3 years of needing a great amount of care, the family decided it best for both Ann and Dick that Dick go to an assisted living facility. A nice facility was chosen close to Ann so she could visit often.

Dick was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He loved his family and friends and always appreciated all the visits.

Dick leaves behind his wife of almost 65 years, AnnaBelle, his children Caryn Matusiefsky (Mark) and Glenda Frazier (Bruce) and Brian Schmidt (Tammy), sisters Marlene Avedis (Howard), and Carol Leenhouts. He is preceded in death by his oldest son Dale Schmidt who died of cancer in 1998.

He is survived by 10 grandchildren, Erin Mattson (Kory), Keith Schmidt (Elyse), Jonathan Matusiefsky (Kelly), Allysa Reece (Travis), Stephanie Matusiefsky, Chante’, Lexa and Jolie Frazier, Karsten and Karina Schmidt and three great grandchildren Chloe and Caleb Mattson and Davis Reece. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

We wish to thank Dick’s longtime friend Bill Poulin for his regular weekly visits. Dick so looked forward to visiting with his friend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any remembrances be made to the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life or Fred Hutchinson Research.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Keith and Keith Funeral Home. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Rainier Memorial Center.

To share a memory, visit www.keithandkeith.com.