Earl Schmaus

Earl loved horses, didn’t he? Earl Schmaus, age 84, passed away as he lived, with dignity and peace at his home on Friday, January 2, 2009, but not without great reservation having to leave this world he loved with foresight and passion.

His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday morning, January 7, 2008, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church by Father Dennis Schafer. Interment will follow the next day at the North Dakota Veterans’ Cemetery in Mandan, N.D., Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m.

An Evening Vigil will be held Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Everson Funeral Home.

He was born during the tough times of the Great Depression on October 1, 1924 to Ed and Rosie (George) Schmaus on the Parker place outside Sisseton, S.D. Growing up he was a self-described cowpuncher in his youth and at 17 partook in an 800 mile cattle drive with his uncles, herding them to summer pasture at his grandmother’s farm in South Dakota. As the story goes, upon his return he “borrowed” his grandmother’s favorite gray mare and rode 26 miles to see a cute blonde, blue eyed young lady, Holly Nelson. They were married on August 24, 1944.

There was a short honeymoon as dear Uncle Sam gave Earl his draft notice. He departed from Camp Kilmer, N.J. for his tour of duty in Europe, joining General George Smith Patton’s third Army at the end of the Battle of Bulge, then spearheaded through Hanover 80 Kilometers from Berlin, crossing the Rhineland into central Europe. He was of the 35th Division, 134th Infantry Regiment, Company B. and proud of their motto, “Lah we Lah His” (The brave and the strong) and “All hell can’t stop us”. General Patton personally pinned a unit citation on Earl in Koblenz, Germany and inspected his rifle. Earl received the Bronze Star for heroic or meritorious achievement of service, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theater Service Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.

After the end of World War II Earl received an honorable discharge from the army and went to Idaho logging yellow pine with an 8’ cross cut saw, trapped for fur, and drove gravel truck. He then joined the National Guard and began an apprenticeship in the bricklayer trade. This endeavor was interrupted when he was activated into the Korean Conflict in 1950, moving the family to Colorado Springs, Colo.

He finished his apprenticeship in the bricklaying trade which he passed on to several family members and began building a family. A job opportunity too good to refuse found the family moving back to Williston in 1956, and the rest is history. Earl and Holly made Williston their permanent home to raise their family. Jubal, their youngest was born in 1960 and Earl started contracting work. There was little of this country that wasn’t touched by his “Master-hand” bricklaying. He worked on schools, hospitals, and churches across Texas, Arizona, Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota including Williston State College, Williston High School, and the bell tower of First Lutheran Church to name but a few.

Earl received 25 and 40 year pins, and was recognized for 50 years of service from the Bricklayers International Union Local #2, of Minot. Earl said, “I would have never retired if Holly hadn’t become ill”, upon which he started his new career as her “Champion Caregiver” until she passed away in 2005.

To Holly, Earl was “Rusty”. He carried on a devoted love affair with Holly that lasted 61 adventurous years. He had an outgoing personality and was a gentleman to be admired in every crowd. Intellect, wisdom, and a high standard of values; mixed with his passion for being a bricklayer and his profound love for the Thoroughbred horse made him an unforgettable man.

Earl had the soft voice and touch that broke many a horse. He carried the patience and strong back of being quite a famous local ferrier �“ tending and shoeing for many area horse owners. He loved and raised horses from his youth, and began raising and racing Thoroughbreds in the 1950’s. If he wasn’t working, you could find him studying the “Thoroughbred Record”. He was already calculating Winnipeg racing for spring.

Hunting and fishing were pursued in a competitive spirit with his favorite partner, Holly. Many great stories came from those trips. Earl bagged his antelope and deer this year, but no luck on the turkey hunt over Thanksgiving. Earl and Holly fished the Washington coast, Alaska, Saskatchewan, Canada, and the Midwest.

Earl was involved in the Boy Scouts, organizations of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and was an NRA member.

Earl’s happiest days were hunting or fishing with Holly; being out at the barn with his horses or getting a “win” picture with them. It was a big time when his kids and grandchildren came home. He was always tracking the whereabouts of his beloved great grandchildren. We are so blessed to have had a dad who gave us so much adventure and pure unconditional love. He was fierce in his protection and always the “Quiet Hero to the Rescue”. There was never a man closer to his brothers and sisters �“ he called them often. Earl was proud of his father with much wisdom to share, and the fact his “mama” lived to be 100 years old. He never forgot where he came from.

Earl lived his life with value, pride and a drive toward excellence. He truly captured the gift of life and love, living it to the fullest or as he best put it: “I want to do it all”. This appreciation and his honest, hardworking example will forever be his gift to us.

Earl is survived by his children: daughter Gaye Pettis (Bob) of Everett, Wash., son Pierce Schmaus (Barb) of Glendive, Mont., daughter Mistyl Sauvageau of Williston, son Jubal Schmaus (Michelle) of Everett, Wash., son-in-law Mike Sara; and grandchildren, Dane (Gina) and Justin (Stacey) Pettis, Ryan Schmaus and Yvette (Gerald) Schubert, Duane (Candi) Sauvageau, Misty (Jeff) Guetter, Leticia Sara (Randy Draves), Shantel (Craig) O’Dell, Hunter and Rowan Schmaus; and 16 great-grandchildren, Hannah, Hayley, Heather, Heston and Heath Pettis; Nicolina, Sophia, Gus, Valor, Eachean, Isabella and Francis Pettis; Sebastian, Gaige and Heather Guetter; and Shayla O’Dell.

Earl was preceded in death by his wife Holly, daughter Pat Sara; parents Ed and Rosie Schmaus, and his sister Dorothy Thelin.

Earl is survived by brothers: Edward Schmaus, Helena, Mont, Dick (Dee) Schmaus, Townsend, Mont., Bobby (Marlys) Schmaus, Kirkland, Wash., Gordon Schmaus, Jefferson City, Mont., Billy Schmaus, Lompoc, Calif.; sisters: Kathy Rice, Clackamus, Ore., Carole (Nate) Thorp, Sioux Falls, S.D., Judy (Gary) Gleason, Claire, S.D., Marcia Schmaus and husband, David George, Minneapolis, Minn.; and a large extended family.

Friends may visit the Everson Funeral Home website at www.eversonfh.com to share thoughts and remembrances.

Friends may call at the Everson Funeral Home of Williston Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Wednesday at the church for the hour preceding the service.