Nora Jane Schmidt

Nora Jane Lohrentz was born January 6, 1927, the 5th of 6 children of Henry and Margaret (Friesen) Lohrentz on the home place in rural Harvey County near Alta Mill. The family moved to Dalhart, Texas in 1930, then moved back in 1936, living southeast of Buhler along the Little Arkansas River.

She was baptized into Hebron Mennonite Church at Finnemore Lake in 1945 at the age of 18. 

She married Raymond (Tobe) Goering on December 6, 1945. They had one son, Peter Ray Goering, on July 23, 1953. In June of 1960 Tobe collapsed while they were milking cows. He died 2 weeks later June 27, 1960. After auctioning the farm things off in August she and Pete moved into Pretty Prairie where she was offered a job in the grocery store (an answer to her prayers). A year later she was offered the job as secretary at Pretty Prairie Grade School.

On June 7, 1964, she married Eldon (Ben) Graber. He died December 12, 1977, after a 2-week battle with pneumonia.

In 1981 she resigned from Elementary School secretary and on March 7, 1981, married Elmer Schmidt in Hebron Mennonite Church in Buhler. He blessed her with a wonderful family of 5 children and 7 grandchildren. The family eventually grew to 13 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren and anticipated her first great great grandchild, a boy next summer.

She often said she was blessed with 3 wonderful marriages. She and Elmer traveled often and loved fishing especially in Canada. Elmer passed away while ice fishing with a friend on January 11, 2004, at Cheney Lake. His unanticipated death was especially crushing for her, but her faith never wavered.

She is survived by Doris (Don) Wiens of Kensington, Ks., Donna Schmidt of Paducah, Ky., Norman (Myrna) Schmidt of Inman, Ks., David (Elaine) Schmidt of Inman, Ks., Pete (Donna) Goering of Newton, Ks., Kathy (Mike) Houk of Warsaw, Mo., 13 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by her parents, husbands Raymond Goering, Eldon Graber, Elmer Schmidt, a daughter in law, Debbie Goering,  sisters Luella Mueller, Ruth Thiessen Froese, Irma Alden, Dorothy Ediger, brother Quinton Lohrentz and son Melvin Schmidt.

Visitation will be held from 5-7PM Friday, January 24, 2025, at Inman Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Buhler Municipal Cemetery, Buhler. Celebration of Life services will follow at 11:00 AM at Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church, Inman. The service will be live streamed on the Inman Funeral Home Facebook page, which you can get to via the Inman Funeral Home website. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Pleasant View Home for Home Health or the church, in care of the funeral home. To leave a condolence for the family, visit: www.inmanfh.com.