Steven 'Schmidty' A. Schmidt, 57, Berthold, formerly of Niagara, ND, passed away unexpectedly from an unknown heart condition, on April 8, 2017 in Orr, MN.

Steven A. Schmidt was born on December 31, 1959 in Michigan, ND to Lloyd and Dellene (Kroocmo) Schmidt. He was raised on a farm in rural Niagara, ND and graduated from Petersburg High School in 1978. He completed diesel mechanic training in Wahpeton at the North Dakota State School of Science in 1980.

Steven was united in marriage to Michele Knutson on January 23, 1981 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Niagara, ND. This union was blessed with a daughter, April and a son, Dustin. They made their home in Berthold, ND since their marriage.

Schmidty found his niche quickly in the mechanic industry during his employment with Green Power Equipment in Berthold. He also held a mechanic position at Gratech and was a truck driver for Triple N Transport over the years. He followed his dream in 2002 when he purchased a service truck and started Steve's Diesel Repair, Inc. He worked on heavy construction equipment, which he knew best and loved the challenges of tearing down those large machines and putting them back together. While in business on his own, Steve worked with KGM Contractor's throughout the MN region. He decided to take a break from "pulling wrenches" as he called it, in the construction business and began working for Morris Industries, stationed in Canada. Later he decided to return to his comfort zone of working on large equipment and began working with Arnt Construction in the McGregor, ND area during the oil boom. During that time he loved living in his camper on the farm near his friends and coworkers. After the oil boom slowed down, he returned to MN to work with KGM Contractor's.

Steve was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Berthold. He especially enjoyed gardening, fishing and camping. One of his favorite possessions was his 1973 Chevy Nova, which he and Dustin restored during Dustin's high school years. Ski trips to Big Sky Montana during spring break were a family tradition until 2004, when they traveled to Daytona for NASCAR Speedweeks, now the traditional family trip. 'Howdy' was his standard greeting to a friend or a stranger and everyone who knew him has seen his hands flap at a time of excitement. He will be missed by all who shared in his life and missed most by those who called him husband, dad, son, and brother.

Steve's loving family includes his wife of 36 years: Michele Schmidt, Berthold; daughter, April (Troy Reimche) Schmidt, Fargo; son, Dustin Schmidt, Horace, ND; father, Lloyd and stepmom, Dorcas Schmidt, Oslo, MN; brothers, David (Kim) Schmidt and Virgil (Amy) Schmidt, both of Grand Forks; mother-in-law, Alice Knutson, Dauphin, Manitoba; brother-in-law, Peter (Paula) Knutson, Dauphin, Manitoba; sisters-in-law, Kathy Morten, Lakota, ND and Cindy Strand, Mohall, ND; numerous nieces, nephews and step siblings and his beloved cat, JoJo "the Panther" as he called him.

Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Dellene; brother, Darrin; father-in-law, Richard Knutson and brothers-in-law, Kirk Morten and Kenny Strand.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 14, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church, Berthold.

Interment: St. Andrew Cemetery, Niagara later in the spring.

Visitation: Thursday, April 13, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association or the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.