April 16, 1935 – Thursday, February 11, 2016

Service Information
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church-Buffalo, MN
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
11:00 A.M.

Visitation Information
Peterson Chapel-Buffalo, MN
Monday, February 15, 2016
4-8 P.M.

Elaine M. Schmidt of Buffalo, MN, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, February 11, 2016.
Elaine “Tootie” Muriel McGillivray was born in Staples, MN on April 16, 1935, to John and Irene (Olmschenk) McGillivray. She was the second of 12 children. She was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples. For a short time, the family lived in the state of Washington, while her father worked for the railroad. After graduating from Staples High School in 1953, Elaine moved to Minneapolis and worked at IDS.
She met Gordon Schmidt through her roommate, Maxine (Dixon) Ladda. She and Gordon were married on May 14, 1955. They were blessed with a daughter, Cheryl and twin sons, Lee and Larry.
When the children were older, Elaine worked at Fullerton Lumber in Monticello and then in the meat department at Esau’s Grocery Store in Buffalo. Later, she began working at Functional Industries, where she worked for 30 years. After retirement she worked part time at a local antique store for a while.
Elaine was a member of St. Francis Church, a member of Buffalo American Legion Axillary Past Presidents, Red Hat Society, and a Bonco group.
She was still only in her 30s when she lost her husband in 1973. She continued the Schmidt traditions, as well as the relationships with family and friends they had had together. Nobody’s shoes would ever fit as well as Gordy’s under her bed, was the reason she gave for remaining single for 41 years.
She enjoyed listening to Country and Gospel music. One of Elaine’s favorite things to do was listen to her brothers and other family members play music at get-togethers. Camping and fishing ‘up north’ with friends, was another of her favorite activities.
While you never had to wonder what she was thinking, she really liked and cared for other people. This was evident even on her last day on earth. When two of her nieces, who both had new grandbabies, stopped to visit, she yelled for Brittany to get the two gifts of booties she had for them. When not spending time with others, she was usually praying for them. She recently commented, “I have so many people to pray for.” She loved going out for lunch with friends and occasional afternoons with the ‘Schmidt cousins’ gatherings, as well as the McGillivray birthday dinners. She loved having visitors come over. People always felt welcome in her presence. She enjoyed spending time with people of all ages, including her great grandsons, Riley & Wes who lived with her as well as visits from Jake, Felicity, and Abby. She happily played many games with them including dice games and Go Fish. There were four generations living in her home on earth, and she wouldn’t have had it any other way, for while losing her husband as well as her twin sons at early ages, she loved having family near and she considered them a blessing from God.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Gordon, sons LeRoy (Lee) and Larry; parents, Irene & John McGillivray; brothers, Kenny (infant), Roger (young child), and Jim McGillivray; sisters, Renee and Mary Beth McGillivray; parents-in-law, Harold & Josephine Schmidt; brothers-in-law, John & Francis Schmidt, and sister-in-law, Jeanette Schmidt.
Elaine is survived by her daughter, Cheryl and husband Tim Bohnen, of Buffalo; grandchildren, Jammie Clement (Mark McKay) of Montrose; Corey Beneke (Becky Lehn) Kailey Beneke (Tyler Voigt) and Brittany Beneke, all of Buffalo; Great grandchildren, Jake, Felicity & Abby Clement, and Wesley & Riley Beneke. Prior son-in-law, David Beneke, and ‘adopted’ Great grandchildren, Kiley & Andy McKay and Sean & Ronan Voigt; Brothers Gary ( Kathy ) McGillivray of Anoka, and Russ McGillivray of Princeton; Sisters Jean Strunk of Princeton, Pat (Bob) Riechel and Linda McGillivray of Dillworth; Jan McGillivray of Elk River, & sister-in-law, Sharon Schmidt of Buffalo; goddaughters, Lisa (Weldele) Thibodeau and Kelly (Schmidt) Day, godson, Russell McGillivray, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Mass of Christian Burial for Elaine Schmidt will be held on Tuesday, February 16 at 11:00 am at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Buffalo. Father Nathaniel Meyers will be the Celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mark’s Cemetery in Buffalo.
A visitation will be held on Monday evening, February 15th from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Further visitation will be held on Tuesday morning, February 16th one hour prior to Mass at the Church.
Honorary Pallbearers are all of the McGillivray nephews.
Pallbearers are nephews: Curt, Doug, Dave & Dale Schmidt, Russ Peterson, and Chuck Zumbusch.