Clara L. "Smitty" Schmidt

Clara L. "Smitty" Schmidt, 85, of North Sioux City, formerly of Sioux City, passed away Monday, April 30, 2018, at her home.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Riverside United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Merrill Muller officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Berkemier Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes.
Clara was born on Oct. 5, 1932, to Theodore and Clara (King) Torgerson. She graduated from East High School in Sioux City.
On March 17, 1955, Clara married Lyle Schmidt. During her marriage, she developed the nickname "Smitty" that friends and family called her, especially at her work. Clara worked for St. Vincent Hospital for 10 years, then Marian Health center for 24 years as a nursing assistant. She retired in 1997.
Clara was a lifelong citizen of Sioux City, until she moved to North Sioux City three years ago. She was a member of Riverside United Methodist Church. Clara enjoyed playing bingo, reading, history, and she loved animals, especially her late cat, Sugar Daddy. Another hobby she was fond of was writing. Clara loved writing notes, cards to people, and writing in her journals.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Shawn Jackson of North Sioux City, and Sherry Loomis and her special friend, Ken Searls of Sioux City; son, Terry Schmidt and his special friend, Colette Turgeon (Clara's special adopted daughter) of Sioux City; seven granddaughters, Melissa Quincy, Nina Turner, Becky Leigh, Kim Schmidt, Patricia Ferdig, Teresa Ferdig, and Kathy Reyes; one grandson, Ricky Jackson; 21 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Harry Torgerson and his wife, Kay of Sioux Falls, S.D.
Clara is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lyle Schmidt; great-grandchild, Ryan Blanchard; brother, Theodore "Tinsky" Torgerson; and her aunt, Nellie Stewart.