The funeral service for Vlesta Schmidt was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 15, 2025, at First Southern Baptist Church in Gregory, SD, with Russ Grim officiating.
Colleen Murray accompanied the congregation on piano for several hymns. Rose Wolf was soloist for Blessings and Amazing Grace.
Darlene Horst and Jean Johnson were in charge of registration, and Penny Sperl and Emily Beck were flower attendants.
Michael Stevicks, Ryan Raschke, JJ Wolf, Eddie Dostal, Zach Albers, Thomas Albers, and Dustin Matucha were casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers were Lee Matucha, Triston Massa, Treydon Massa, and Trenton Massa.
Interment was at IOOF Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Vlesta T. Schmidt was born February 3, 1928, in Colome, SD, to Ander Edward and Veda (Elshire) Anderson. Vlesta grew up and attended school in Burke, SD. She was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Burke, SD.
After graduating, Vlesta worked at Ogden Arsenal in Ogden, UT, where she lived with her sister Gladus. She was united in marriage to Fred Henry Schmidt on September 18, 1946. They lived south of Dallas, SD, on Goldie Sikes’ place. They were blessed with a baby girl, Kathleen K, on September 28, 1949; at this time they were living in Burke. Later they moved to the Frank Kucera farm south of Buche’s in Gregory.
Vlesta worked for Edie Lorie’s shop, Clara Belle Pavlis’ shop, and also for Merna Schrader’s quilt shop. On the farm south of Gregory, she had her own shop where she did upholstery work for many people. She got a job at the Gregory Elementary School kitchen and then later at the Gregory High School kitchen. To this day her daughter Kathy still receives requests for Vlesta’s stromboli recipe; it was their favorite.
In 1985, Fred and Vlesta moved in to Gregory and sold the farm. At her home in Gregory, Vlesta started making quilts and finished nearly 100.
Vlesta and Fred were happy to help raise their great- and great-greatgrandchildren: Michael, Paige, and Ryan while their mother Lorie was going to college, then Triston while his mother Rose went to college.
Vlesta resided in her home and at her daughter’s home prior to her death. She enjoyed the kitties at her daughter’s house while she stayed there from time to time. She passed away in the Gregory Hospital on November 9, 2025, at the age of 97 years.
She is survived by daughter Kathy Matucha; grandchildren Lorie (John Stevens), Glorie, and Lee; eight great-grandchildren; and nine great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Fred; son-in-law Melvin Matucha; and grandson Jesse Matucha.
