Marla Schmitt, 82, of Wishek, ND, died August 23, 2026, at South Central Health, Wishek. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Wishek. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at St. Luke Cemetery. A livestream of Marla’s funeral service available on St. Luke Wishek YouTube page.

Marla JoAnne (Dague) Schmitt was born on September 6, 1943, to Dock Dague and Edith Massey, and was raised in and around Maquoketa, IA. She graduated from Maquoketa High School in 1961. Her childhood dreams of becoming a nurse seemed to come to fruition as she enlisted in the US Army in 1962 and became a medic while also receiving training as a physical therapist. It was then that she met the love of her life and married Stan Schmitt in December 1963, in Fort Leavenworth, KS. She then embarked on a new chapter in her life as wife, mother, and later, grandmother and great grandmother. Family became the primary focal point through many military moves, career changes and ultimately, retirement to the family home in Wishek. Throughout the various changes of locales from Kansas to Washington, DC; to Hawaii; to Atlanta, GA; to Milwaukee, WI (with a stopover in Wishek), she kept the home fires organized and burning.

Three constants were always present – her love of God, her love of family, and her love of music. Having been originally raised in the Salvation Army Church, God and music always provided inspiration and as such provided continual guidance to the family. She was involved in scouting, and all the children’s school life, along with volunteer work for the Atlanta and Milwaukee Symphonies as well as being heavily involved with the Women of the Church wherever the family was located or church the family attended.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Edith and Dock Dague, as well as her sister, Betty Howell, and brother, Dock (Jack) Dague.

She leaves behind her husband of 62 years, Stan; daughters, Robin Schmitt, Erna Wilde (Mark); sons, Jerome (Jerry), and Eric (Amy); as well as granddaughters, Angela Caroll (Matt), Jennifer Gruener, Bryanna Wilde; and grandsons, Robert Gruener (Shreya) and Ty Schmitt. Great-grandchildren Connor and Jocelyn Caroll.