Grace Schmitt, 89, Jamestown, ND passed away Monday, October 15, 2018 at Prince of Peace Care Center, Ellendale, ND.

To say Grace Schmitt was anything but remarkable would be an injustice. Grace was born Grace Marcella Eslinger on June 7th, 1929 in Fredonia, North Dakota. The beginning of the Great Depression. She was the 7th of what would be 10 children. She lived on a farm with an outhouse and attended a one room schoolhouse that they would walk to. The school house was several miles away.

The impact of the depression on the family and their resources prompted them roughly 14 years later to move to Jamestown. An extreme adjustment for a large family and a young daughter. Grace ended up completing 8th grade and went to work as a waitress at a Chinese restaurant to help the family financially. She went on to marry at 17 and had two children. They later divorced, and Mom remarried the love of her life James Schmitt. Eight years later they had a daughter. Life was not easy for Grace. Her husband died of cancer 4 years later.

At a time when most women were homemakers, teachers or secretaries Grace needed a job. To provide for her and her children she started bartending, a business she knew from her deceased husband James. This profession was not traditional and violated many social mores as a woman. Yet, she persevered because the financial payback was more then she could earn in any other role. As a result, two of her children were able to go to college.

In her 40’s she became manager of the Super 8 Motel in Jamestown and then in Fergus Falls, MN. Talk about a woman reinventing herself. This is still a time when women did not have a face in management regardless of profession. Grace gained her business acumen by listening to her bar clientele and asking questions to further her knowledge she did not get from a traditional education.

Grace’s work ethic and learned business skills allowed a woman with an 8th grade education to overcome a multitude of obstacles. At 50 she obtained her GED and relocated to Jamestown. Grace’s reputation took her to her favorite job of all, managing the Hideaway Lounge and Piano bar. At 50+ years old, she stocked coolers, loaded inventory and ran her own Profit and Loss statement. Six years later, she went on to become a store manager for numerous retail stores until her retirement in 1982.

Many could say Grace’s life and sometimes her choices were unconventional. Perhaps at times they were. Yet Grace like many other women made a way for all other single women today to have a place in the workplace. She endured and persevered among many challenges to ensure she and her children always had a place to live and food to eat. Often, we lose sight of the personal sacrifices made by our parents.

As children and grandchildren of Grace we want to honor her fortitude and determination, work ethic and accomplishments as a single woman in the workplace; AND as a single Mother the majority of her life. Thank you, Mom and Granny, for your tenacious spirit in the face of countless challenges. You were a woman before your time.

Grace is survived by her daughters Sherry Rivard Brockett (Schmitt), Jackie Halvorson (Zimmerman) and her Grandchildren, Jeremy, Rebecca, Jason, Jade, Dane and Lindsey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Prince of Peace Care Center, Ellendale, ND.

Visitation will be 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Friday, October 19 at Eddy Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Friday, October 19 at Eddy Funeral Home with Pastor Delino Eslinger officiating.

Burial will be in Highland Home Cemetery.