Annie Ruth Schmidt

Annie Ruth Schmidt was born November 10, 1926, the seventh of a dozen children to

Edward and Marie Schmidt. She grew up on a farm near Bessie, Oklahoma. Ann

enjoyed learning in grade school at Flynn school district #19 and at home she learned to

wash dishes, peel potatoes, pick cotton, and patch overalls. Her greatest love was to

read and to teach things to her five younger brothers and sisters.

Although Ann was raised in a Christian home and attended Sunday school, her biggest

worry as a child was "Where will I go when I die?" At the age of about 10 she received

Jesus as her Savior while listening to Charles E. Fuller preaching on the radio on the

Old Fashioned Revival Hour. She was baptized by Rev. C.B. Friezen in Herold

Mennonite Church near Bessie. At age 14, at a Sunday afternoon young people's

meeting at church, she gave her life to Christ to be used of Him in whatever way would

be His will. Little did she realize that the Lord had a plan and purpose for her that would

involve her love of teaching.

While attending high school at Corn Bible Academy, Ann was elected as Sunday school

teacher of the beginner's class in her church. In teaching those little ones, she realized

the joy of fulfilling the Great Commission in Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and

preach the gospel to every creature."

During her senior year at Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebraska, she heard about

Child Evangelism Fellowship. She volunteered to teach Vacation Bible School for twelve

weeks for CEF the following summer of 1951. This began her adventure of teaching and

traveling as she taught in South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana. This experience of

teaching and leading children to Christ was so thrilling to Ann that when the summer

was over she asked, "Is there anything that CEF does in the winter time?"

Ann was encouraged to attend a CEF three-week training school in Cheyenne,

Wyoming, taught by CEF's first traveling teacher training team. In the fall of 1951 she

received her first full-time assignment with CEF as a local director in Rapid City, South

Dakota, where she served two months. She served two more years in Watertown,

South Dakota. She became discouraged in the ministry and decided to attend summer

school in Hastings College and taught country grade school for 2 years in Nebraska.

She got back into the ministry by working with the state directors of Nebraska for about

4 years. During this time, she felt the need for more training for her teaching ministry.

She completed several college classes that strengthened her teaching skills. A special

educational treat was the trip overseas with a tour group in 1994 to Greece, Israel and

Egypt. She had taught many Bible lessons that took place in those countries. From

1973-2001, Ann served as a leadership training instructor, traveling to all but 2 states,

finally settling at the CEF home office in Warrenton, Missouri.

She officially retired in 2001 but continued volunteering at the office until 2009 when she

moved to the Baptist Village in Cordell, Oklahoma. She enjoyed wonderful fellowship

with her neighbors. Even there she kept serving at any opportunity and especially loved

teaching at a Native American camp in northeast Oklahoma until 93 years of age!

When asked how she remained faithful to the Lord's ministry all through these years,

she replied, "Because the Lord called me." One of the verses that kept her going was I Corinthians 15:58 "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,

knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

In May of 2024, Ann moved to the Baptist Village Assisted Living in Elk City. The family

is so grateful for the wonderful care she received at the Village. Also, the staff at Agape

Hospice Care was so helpful and loving!

Ann passed away on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Village with several family

members at her side. She spoke often of looking forward to being at home in Heaven

and we have no doubt there is a great welcome home party happening for this faithful

servant.

Ann is preceded in death by her parents: Ed and Marie Schmidt, four sisters: Alice,

Helen, Mary Lou, and Katie; and seven brothers: Martin, Robert, Paul, Louis, Alfred,

Norman, and Eddie.

Ann has a host of nieces, nephews, greats and great greats! She has prayed faithfully

for each family member. Nothing would bring her more joy and honor than to have each

of them have a saving knowledge of Jesus and a life filled with service to Him.

Funeral: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Herold Mennonite Church

Bessie, Oklahoma

Interment: Herold Mennonite Cemetery

Bessie, Oklahoma