Dorine I. Schmitz – Obit

Dorine I. Schmitz, 90 of Red Lake Falls, MN passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 23, 2022, at Hillcrest Senior Living with her loving family by her side.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Friday, October 28, 2022, with the Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with visitation one hour prior to the service. Father Adam Hamness will preside, and Father Bob Schreiner will be homilist. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Dorine Iona Beauchane was born December 2, 1931, in Louisville Township the daughter of Medy and Rose (Dufault) Beauchane. She was baptized on December 6, 1931 and confirmed by Bishop Peschges at St. Dorothy Catholic Church in Dorothy, MN. Dorine attended country school where she walked uphill both ways and graduated from Lafayette High School in Red Lake Falls with the class of 1949.

On October 7, 1952, Dorine was united in marriage to Alois Schmitz at St. Dorothy Catholic Church. Alois was stationed in Ft. Campbell, KY where the couple first lived and their first son, Robert was born. They made their first home in Red Lake Falls, MN following his Honorable Discharge from the United States Army and then moved to Louisville Township. Alois and Dorine purchased their farmstead in 1961 and together raised their family of 15 children. They also raised grains, dairy, chickens and other livestock. In 2006 they sold the farm to Richard and continued to live there until 2008 when they moved into Red Lake Falls.

The focus of Dorine’s life was her large brood raising and tending to their needs. She was cooking and canning all the time, made lots of homemade bread, and tended to her large garden. She started embroidering at an early age. Dorine hand-crafted many quilts, afghans, dish towels and doilies throughout her life.

Her pastime was playing canasta on Wednesday with her lady friends and painting ceramics in the evenings. She enjoyed tagging along with Alois when his band played on the weekend. They loved twirling around on the dance floor together.

Dorine was a very strong, hard-working, and independent woman. She spoke French fluently when she talked with her family and friends. Her kids knew they were in slight trouble when she started talking to her parents in French.

She and Alois had a very fun-loving, caring, strong, relationship and worked hard together as a team. They were loving but firm with their children, had good moral values, taught their children good work ethics and their faith was very strong.

She was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls. Dorine was a 50-year member of the Catholic Daughters of America, she sewed prayer blankets for several years with the Sewing Angels, served with the Ladies Guild, and supported her children in the St. Joseph Catholic School.

Dorine is survived by her loving children Robert “Bobby” (Marlys) Schmitz of Red Lake Falls, MN; Richard (Brenda) Schmitz of Red Lake Falls, MN; Darlene (Rodney) Zutz of Red Lake Falls, MN; Karen (special friend Kevin Derosier) Schmitz of Red Lake Falls, MN; Laurie Hamness of Strathcona, MN; Marlen (special friend Ronda Bjornson) Schmitz of Grey Eagle, MN; Lisa (Brian) Nelson of Red Lake Falls, MN; Jackie (Mark) Erickson of Red Lake Falls, MN; Sheila (Wayne) Hanson of Red Lake Falls, MN; Mary (Randy) Huot of Red Lake Falls, MN; Melanie (Dave) Lessard of Crookston, MN; Andrea (Tim) Sykes of Erskine, MN; Michelle (Steve) Holzer of Red Lake Falls, MN and Tricia Proulx of Fosston, MN; grandchildren Cole (Joanna) Schmitz, Corey (Kallie) Schmitz, Kayla (Tanner) Conely, Chase Schmitz, Wendy (Danny) Swendra, Amy (John) Wendel, Jenny (fiancé Phil Lien) Randall, Tyler (Cassie) Schmitz, Corey Dufault, Kelly (Sean) Hicks, Kyle (Audrae) Schmitz and Rochelle (Marshall) Mickelson, Dylan and Presley Zutz, Aaron Schmitz, Josh (Morgan) Remer, Erick (Kacie) Hamness and Father Adam Hamness, Katie (Andrew) Faken, Rebecca and Logan Schmitz, Allison Nelson, Matt (Quianah) Nelson, Jenna (Cameron) McFarlin, Brianna, Alex, Chandler, Carson and Dawson Erickson, Cody, Austen, Mason and Madison Hanson, Corinna (Josh) Moser, Abby, Josie and Nathan Huot, Samantha (Devyn) Nelson, Jordan and Brylee Lessard, Taylor, Maverick (Jena) and Gracie Gunufson, Morgan, MaKenzie and Carter Williams, Peyton and Ethan Proulx; 30 great-grandchildren and two on the way; well known to them as “Grandma Farm”; sister-in-law, Andrea Beauchane; and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Alois in 2013; son, Paul in 2002; parents; infant brother, Lloyd; brother, Russell; granddaughter, Emma in 2004; and son-in-law, Greg Hamness in 2012.

Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com