Delores Schmidt

Delores C. Schmidt, age 97 of Elrosa, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at CentraCare Hospital Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 17 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Kevin Soenneker officiating and Rev. Joe Korf concelebrating. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Sauk Centre.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. Monday at the church.

Delores Catherine Essler was born on January 17, 1929, in Padua, Minnesota to Joseph and Theresa (Dirschel) Essler. She attended rural grade school near Padua through the eighth grade. Delores was united in marriage to Vernon “Vern” Schmidt on February 9, 1948 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Padua, Minnesota. Throughout their married life, Delores and Vern made their homes in Elrosa, Boyd, and Blaine before returning to Sauk Centre. In her later years, Delores moved to Elrosa. She worked for Honeywell and after returning to Sauk Centre, she and Vern operated the Palmer House Bar. Together, they later built The Red Carpet Bar & Lounge, where Delores worked until her retirement.

She was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, the Christian Mothers, and the Sauk Centre American Legion Post 67 Auxiliary. She was also a former member of the Elrosa Senior Citizens.

Delores especially enjoyed spending her summers at the family lake cabin at Head of the Lakes Resort on Lake Osakis. Above all, she cherished time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her cupboards were always well stocked with treats, making sure there was something special waiting whenever they came to visit. Delores also enjoyed an occasional whiskey water and trying her luck at pull tabs.

Survivors include her children, Mary (Ben) Petermeier of Grey Eagle and Carol (Harry) Zenzen of Elrosa; three grandchildren, Mark (Cheryl) Lange of New Richmond, WI, Kayla (Craig) Medalen of Elrosa, and Mike (Amy) Zenzen of Elrosa; six great-grandchildren, Dalton (Lindsey) Lange of Lakeland, FL, Bennert and Emersyn Medalen of Elrosa, and Willa, Lane, and Maise Zenzen of Elrosa.

Delores was preceded in death by her husband, Vern Schmidt, on November 28, 1993; parents, Joseph and Theresa Essler; sisters, Alvina Bayer and Sally Mildenberger; and brother, Ray Essler.