WILLIAM "BUD" HERMAN SCHMIDT

Funeral services for William Herman “Bud” Schmidt, 80, will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the First Christian Church in Wheatland, Wyoming with Pastor Casey Schoeder officiating and Michaela Clausen as the eulogist.  A visitation will be in the Fireside Room from 12:30 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.  Interment will be in the Wheatland Cemetery.

Mr. Schmidt died Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyoming.

Bud was born on Sunday, April 18, 1943 in Pauline, Nebraska the son of Ernest Elmer and Leona LaVon (Baker) Schmidt.  He was raised and educated in Blue Hill, Nebraska.  The family moved to Douglas, Wyoming in 1954 and then to Lingle, Wyoming where he finished his education.  He was married to Charlotte Louise Ralph on March 25, 1962 in Wheatland, Wyoming.  He worked for Western Paving as a heavy equipment operator in road construction while living in Guernsey and in 1971 moved to Torrington.

He began his career as a coal miner by moving to Hanna, Wyoming in June, 1973 than to Rock Springs, Wyoming in 1985, and in March, 1993 to Douglas and the family joined him that May.  He retired in 2004 as a dragline operator at the South Antelope Coal Mine.  He resided in Douglas until the time of his death.

Bud enjoyed reading Louie L’Amour, Ralph Cotton, and Zane Gray books.  He was an avid Denver Bronco fan, watched numerous western movies, spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren; and became a fan of the Buffalo Bills because of Josh Allen.

Bud is survived by his children, Rhonda LaVon Schmidt of Glendo, Wyoming and William Wade (Natasha) Schmidt of Las Vegas, Nevada; grandchildren, Angela Louise Schmidt, Josh Foster, Michaela Clausen, April Schmidt, Derek Eckenrod, Tia Baucum, and Brandi Schmidt; 21 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandson.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ernest, on December 21, 1981; mother Leona, on April 2, 1967; wife, Charlotte, on October 25, 2023; brothers, James “Jimmy” Ernest Schmidt on November 29, 1960, Vaughn Richard Schmidt on September 25, 1996, and Mitchell Gene Schmidt on November 5, 2023; sisters, Fern Parrish on February 25, 1979 and Shirley Marie Talivaa on April 27, 2007; grandson, Zachary Clausen; and great granddaughter, Brookelynn Baucum.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the choice of the donor would be appreciated by the family.

Serving as pallbearers will be Derek Eckenrod, Derrike Garrett, Jesse Baucum, Josh Foster, Brandi Schmidt, and April Schmidt.         

The Gorman Funeral Homes-Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of WILLIAM "BUD" HERMAN SCHMIDT, please visit our floral store.