Plainville -- Bennie Schmidt, 86, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001, at the Plainville Rural Hospital. He was born Sept. 2, 1915, in Catherine to Raymond A. and Dorothy (Leikam) Schmidt.

He married Ann Schmidt on Sept. 13, 1938, in Severin.

He was a self-employed tank truck driver in the oil fields for 12 years, and worked for B&J Tank Service for 18 years. He was a farmer for many years in Ellis and Norton counties. He had lived in Plainville since 1955, coming from Norton County. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, both of Plainville. He was a former charter member of the Swing 'N' Wheels Dance Club and past vice president of the Kansas State Square Dance Association.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; a son, Robert, Salina; three daughters, Janice Benedick, Plainville, Linette Mills, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Marla Doubrava, Moberly, Mo.; two brothers, Willard, New Castle, Okla., and Marcellus, Englewood, Colo.; three sisters, Mary Esther Munk, Quinter, Frances Parker, Hays, and Lillian Bennett, Augusta, Ga.; 13 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Bernard W., a daughter, Raye Ann Smock, four brothers, Clarence, Elmer, Alfred and Dan, and two sisters, Martina Maska and Annabelle Leitz.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Plainville, with Father Joseph S. Popelka officiating; burial in the church cemetery. A Sacred Heart Ladies Guild and Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 6:30 p.m., a vigil service at 7 p.m., a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:30 p.m., all Friday at the church. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Cline's Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd, from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the church, Sacred Heart School or Masses.

Hays Daily News