Date :
Location : Vashon Island Cemetery, Vashon, WA
Bethene Schmidt left us on June 21, 2013 with her daughter Cindy by her side at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington.
Beth was born Laurel Bethene Ellston on February 11, 1926 in Rapid City, South Dakota. She graduated in 1944 from Dallas High School in Dallas, South Dakota. She then went to California and worked in a factory until returning to Dallas, South Dakota. She married Joe Laur in Gregory, South Dakota on 6-21-1950. Beth and Joe were parents of 8 kids when they left South Dakota in 1967 and moved to Washington State. She was a mother, a homemaker and also started working for JC Penney in 1971 and retired in 1988. Beth and Joe were married 40 years when Joe died. Joe and Ed Schmidt were best friends. Joe asked Ed to keep an eye on Beth shortly before he died and that is just what he did. Beth and Ed were married May 1. 1993 and had their 20th anniversary this year.
Beth loved many things, but most of all her family. She loved cooking, crocheting, quilting and sewing. She and Ed loved music, dancing and oh yes the casinos.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Art, her sisters Pat and Gladys. Her oldest son Larry Laur most recently passed the previous Friday, 6-14-2013.
She is survived by her husband Ed Schmidt and her 7 remaining children: Sandi Taylor and her husband Denny of Sumner WA; Rick Laur of Moses Lake, WA; Doug Laur and his wife Sue of Renton, WA; Cindy English in Puyallup, WA; Tim Laur of Vashon, WA; Michael Laur of Port Orchard, WA; and Dan Laur and his wife Stephanie of Bremerton, WA. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and at last count 10 great-grandchildren as well as one sister Doris Fryda of Oxford, NE, three brothers: Chuck Ellston of Kelso, WA; Verne Ellston of Gregory, SD; Dean Ellston of Sioux Falls, SD, and many nieces and nephews.
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - Jul 3, 2013
