Alda Marjorie Wedel

Alda Marjorie Wedel was born on January 16, 1930 to Simon and Margaret Schmidt in Goessel, Kansas. She was the third of their four children, an older brother Randolph, an older sister Sophie, and a younger brother Lester. Alda grew up on a dairy farm in Newton, Kansas. She often helped her mother cook meals during harvest time for the other farmers who came to help during the harvest season.

When Alda was in 2nd grade, her father bought her and Lester some baby chicks to raise. Later they sold them and she used her money to buy a bike she desperately wanted and she loved to ride that bike for hours.

When Alda was growing up, her family attended Alexanderwohl Church near Goessel. It was here she met Leland (Lee) Wedel while attending youth meetings. He was the son of the church’s minister, Philip Wedel. Lee said he knew right away that she was the one he wanted to marry, but she was interested in another boy. He overcame that obstacle, won her heart, and married her in 1948. Lee’s dad Philip performed the wedding ceremony.

Alda’s plans for college were cut short after she became pregnant after getting married. Since Lee was a college student, they lived on campus in a homette designated for married couples. Alda and Lee had two daughters, Janet Lynne, born May 27, 1949 and Catherine Ann, born May 10, 1953.

While Lee was going to college and later starting a teaching career, Alda was a stay at home mom. She loved to sing and often sang for weddings and funerals for extra money. She also was a wonderful seamstress and usually made Janet and Cathie’s dresses and play clothes.

During Alda’s marriage the family moved around a lot due to Lee’s teaching jobs and later his career with St. Paul Insurance Companies. Places they lived included Lyndon, KS. Neodesha, KS, Junction City, KS, Aberdeen, SD, Garden City, KS, St. Paul, MN, and Hesston, KS. Alda said she loved St. Paul the most. She developed many friendships in Minnesota and she and Lee were active in the churches they attended. Over the years she and Lee also traveled many places with friends including London, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

After the family’s move to St. Paul in 1966 Alda decided to start working outside the home. She initially found work as a dental assistant and later worked in secretarial positions at an architectural firm, a financial services company, and the Christian Brothers Provincialate.

Alda loved singing and was in the choir at all the churches she attended over the years. Her most memorable choir experience was at North Heights Lutheran Church in Arden Hills, MN. This church choir performed a Passion Play each year at Easter and both Alda and Lee sang and acted in this play for 18 consecutive years, with 18 performances each year - a total of more than 300 performances.

Things she really enjoyed:
Shopping for clothes, with Chico’s being her favorite place to go
Looking her best, often wearing her favorite jewelry
Working on puzzles with her friends at Schowalter
Going out to eat
Coffee every day, typically 3 cups
Visiting with her many friends
Reading all kinds of books, with spiritual books being her favorites
She loved going to church and worshiping with family and friends Later in life, always finding time to enjoy a nightly glass of Merlot
One of her regrets however, was not finishing college

Preceding Alda in death was the love of her life of 73 years, Lee Wedel; Randolph Schmidt, her older brother and his wife Malinda, her older sister Sophie Brown and her husband Roland, and her younger brother Lester Schmidt.

Surviving her are daughters Janet Voth (Verne) of Hesston, KS, Catherine Wikstrom (Steve) of Forest Lake, MN, sister-in-law Esther Schmidt of Goessel, KS, sister-in-law Lois Regehr of Inman, KS, five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Services are pending and will be announced later by Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston.