Harvey "Hal" Harold Schmidt

It isn’t everyone who could grow up being able to watch dozens of Boeing B-29 Superfortresses fly overhead; those great, lumbering beasts cutting through the air in deafening formation on their way to their final destination in the Pacific for the war. But that is exactly one of the scenes from the life of Harvey Harold “Hal” Schmidt. He was born on May 5, 1935 in the central Kansas town of Russell to Christine (Grasmick) and Frederick Schmidt. The Schmidts were members of the large population of Germans from Russia in central Kansas. These “Volga Germans,” were invited to and later kicked out of Russia over the course of about 140 years. When Frederick and Christine immigrated to the United States at a very young age, they were unaware of each other and the life that they would eventually create together. This union resulted in seven sons and no daughters. Hal was the fourth of those seven sons; the middle child. As did most who survived the Great Depression, Hal was accustomed to deprivation of sorts, especially being the son of farmers coming out of the dust bowl. Yet, the family was able to farm wheat and other crops, have cattle, pigs and chickens and provide food for growing boys who would work on the farm. It was when Hal was 11 in 1948 that he became one of the many unlucky children who fell victim to the Polio epidemic which ravaged young people, seemingly without rhyme or reason. Hal was forced into the hospital and underwent surgeries which were meant to fix some of the legion of problems caused by the disease, including a spinal fusion by an “army doctor.” His recovery meant that he could not attend school for a full year. After that year, he would walk with braces for years, and by the time he was in his early 20s,had healed to the point of no longer needing their support. However, he would walk with a limp for years; a limp which prevented him from military service and other physical activities that young men enjoyed. With some options cut off from him, he chose one of the many remaining. Education was important in the Schmidt household, and Hal chose the life of a teacher as a profession, intentionally or unintentionally mirroring that of his older brother, Paul Schmidt. He attended Ft. Hays State for two years, after which he was issued a provisional teaching license and started on his career in 1956. Hal was a person who took on jobs both willingly and sometimes unwillingly with the same amount of dedication and effort. Part of the stipulation of his first hiring as a teacher was that he was to be a coach for the middle school boys sports teams. Knowing nothing about coaching, he threw himself into learning the role, reading every book that he could about coaching, asking many questions of experts. He made himself to be what he wasn’t before. Because of his diligence, his boys were able to achieve championship status! Not bad for a job that he didn’t expect. While Hal was living teaching in Bird City, Kansas, he met Melita Crissman, also from a small central Kansas town, St. John. The two of them met in the boarding house they both lived in. Melita helped grade middle school papers and the romance blossomed. They were married on August 21, 1960. During the first three years of their relationship, Hal taught 7th and 8th grade inclusive. Melita was a registered nurse. Four years went by quickly, and their time in Kansas came to an end, beginning with a new adventure in another state. Hal felt a desire to advance in his career. After interviewing with both Orange County, California and Portland, Oregon school districts, the two of them made the decision for Hal to take the job with Portland Public Schools. They chose Portland mainly because they had a friend who lived in the Portland area and they wouldn’t go in completely alone. They truly lucked out with that decision. Oregon was good to them. Hal taught at several middle schools while Melita was a nurse at Emmanuel Hospital in Portland. They moved into a house on Hillview Ct in Tigard, Oregon, and welcomed their first son, David, into the family in 1964. In 1969 and 1970, Hal, Melita, and David temporarily moved to Eugene, Oregon where Hal was able to complete his Masters Degree in Special Education. While living there, the family made friends who they would value for many years. After moving back to Tigard, their second son, Darin, was born in 1972. In 1978, Hal and Melita built their dream house in the country near Sherwood, Oregon on 4 ½ acres of wooded property. They had a place where they could have a more substantial garden and be able to have more freedom than they could in the city. Hal was not only a teacher but an assistant principal in the North Portland neighborhood of St Johns. George School (later George Middle School) was where he had his longest tenure, and was eventually where he retired from after 37 years in education. After a short time of retirement, Hal felt the call to get back into education. He was hired by Concordia University to be an advisor to student teachers, observing them and helping them to be successful. Hal greatly enjoyed this as well as his work with the Lake Oswego Lions Club and the Oregon Fuchsia Society where he and Melita were very active. Hal and Melita moved to the Friendsview community in Newberg, Oregon in 2004. While there, they made many friends and engaged in a variety of activities. Everyone knew Hal. He enjoyed chess with his son Darin, negotiating a great deal, encouraging his Friendsview helpers to pursue their dreams, and eating tasty Russian German food. Hal passed away on Thursday, January 04, 2024, at the Providence Newberg Hospital. Surviving family include his wife, Melita Gail Schmidt of Newberg, Oregon, sons David Wayne Schmidt of Beaverton, Oregon and Darin Harold Schmidt of Stayton, Oregon, and brother Sam of Russell, Kansas. Grandchildren are Sarah Helen Schmidt, Sean David Schmidt and Hannah Christine Grace Schmidt (preceded in death). He was loved and will be missed by all. A memorial service will be held at Joyful Servant on Saturday March 23, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Hal’s remains will be both retained by Friends Community Cemetery of Newberg, Oregon and some scattered on the old farm outside of Russell, Kansas. In lieu of flowers one can donate to Joyful Servant OR for the Employee Appreciation fund at Friendsview care of the Business Office. Condolences may be sent to Melita Schmidt c/o Friendsview Retirement Community, 1301 E Fulton Street, Room 203, Newberg, OR 97132.

Harvey "Hal" Harold Schmidt

May 5, 1935 - January 4, 2024