Ralph Schmidt

Ralph William Schmidt passed away Monday, March 16, 2020 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Ralph was born to Edward William Schmidt and Ethel Armstrong Schmidt on December 2, 1944, in Whitehall. Ralph attended schools in Twin Bridges and Anaconda, graduating from Anaconda High School in 1963. In high school, Ralph played percussion in the band, and was actively involved in the drama club. Ralph then attended the University of Montana attaining a bachelor's degree in History and Political Science. Ralph loved history and had an abundant knowledge of the area history. Ralph also played the piano and sang beautifully. He was a board member of the Anaconda Live Community Concert Association. Ralph was also actively involved in Community Theatre where he had the lead in "Kiss Me Kate." He was perfect for the part with that twinkle he had in those big beautiful, piercing blue eyes. He also had a part as the crabby plumber in the "Evel Knievel Movie", which is funny to all of us who knew him, because we never saw him have a "crabby" day. He also had a part in the movie "Little Big Man." Ralph loved to hike, and to travel. A highlight of his life was traveling to Europe. Ralph loved poetry, especially works from Robert Service. He had memorized and was able to quote many of Robert Service's lengthy poems. Ralph especially loved to dance and took ballroom dancing in college. Photography was also a passion of Ralphs. He had his own dark room and would make cards out of old family photos and give them to relatives for birthdays and weddings which were such special gifts. Ralph loved photography and had an eye that made him an exceptional photographer. Ralph did extensive work for both the Anaconda Historical Society and also the Butte Historical Society. Ralph worked at Intermountain Bus in Anaconda and the Montana Standard in Butte. He also started a business called "Screen Graphics" with his business partner Ross Evans. Ralph had amazing relationships in his life, his friends were his friends for life. He has a group of friends from school that he had remained extremely close to up to the moment of his death. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his brother, "Buddy" Lamar (Jane) formally of Noti, Oregon; his sisters, Yvonne Johns of Deer Lodge, Leonne Ouellette of Missoula, and his life-long friend Aard Voll of Anaconda and Canada who was like a brother to Ralph. Ralph is also survived by nieces, Avalon Kellough, Sonja "Toni" Morris, Natasha "Tosha" Schmidt; and nephews, Michael (Lori) Johns, Rick (Terri) Johns, Adam (Mandy) Morris, and his many, many friends. A Memorial Service will be held at the Silver Star Cemetery this Friday, July 24th at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Anaconda Live Community Concert Association.

Memorial Service

JUL 24. 11:00 AM (MST)

Silver Star Cemetery Silver Star, MT 59751