Life LegacyRAPID CITY - Patricia M. Schmidt, 71, died Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the Hospice House in Rapid City, SD, surrounded by her family on a beautiful autumn evening, just as she always loved. We know that she was fishing as soon as her soul was free to soar.Patricia (Pat or Patty) was born to Helen and Irvine Thomson on October 6, 1942, in Deadwood, SD. She graduated from Deadwood High School in 1960. She continued her education in nursing and graduated in 1963 from Saint John’s McNamara School of Nursing.While attending nursing school, Patricia met Jerome (Jerry) Schmidt on a blind date. After dating for a year they became engaged. They married on August 24, 1963, after she graduated from nursing school. Pat and Jerry went on to have five children and recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary.Patricia worked at Saint John’s Hospital starting in 1963 for a year, then worked at Black Hills Rehabilitation. In 1970 she began a 10-year stint with the United Blood Services, where she helped start the Plasma Freeze Program. She then worked at Rapid City Regional Hospital, where she retired after 25 years of helping many patients and building many great friendships.Patricia loved to spend her time camping and fishing with her husband and children. She loved picking berries and fruit for canning and jelly or syrup, a tradition which she shared with her own mom. She spent countless hours watching her kids play sports and simply being with her immediate and extended family. She always shared her faith of the Lord with her husband and kids, even up to her very last breath.Grateful for sharing her life include her husband of 51 years, Jerome, of Rapid City; son, Jay (Becky) of Bardstown, KY; son, Calvin (Susan) of Rapid City; daughter, Gail, of Rapid City; son, Russell (Shalene) of Clarksville, TN; son, Andrew of Rapid City; brother, Jim (Sharon) Thomson of Rapid City; brother, Ed Thomson of El Cajon, CA; sister, Anita (Scott) Carlisle of Montrose, CO; seven grandchildren; and one great grandchild with another on the way.