Joseph “Joe” J. Schmaltz
July 21, 1933-Feb. 8, 2022
Joseph “Joe” J.
Schmaltz, 88, of Minot,
passed away on Tuesday,
February 8, 2022, at Trini-
ty Hospital. Joe was born
July 21, 1933, to Joseph A.
and Caroline (Gross)
Schmaltz in Rugby, ND.
He was raised on a farm
and educated in Rugby
where he graduated High
School in 1952. As an
FFA Member in High
School, Joe was recog-
nized as the North Dakota
State Dairy Farmer of the
Year. Following one year
of college at Minot State,
Joe enlisted in the United
States Army and proudly
served his country during
the Korean War. He was
honorably discharged on
June 8, 1956.
Joe married Loretta Mae
Ellsworth on August 19,
1954, at the Little Flower
Catholic Church in Rug-
by, ND. With homes in
Rugby, Bottineau, Lake
Metigoshe and Minot,
they raised eight wonder-
ful children, sixteen
grandchildren and eigh-
teen great-grandchildren.
Joe enjoyed life to its
fullest and had a special
fondness for spending
time with his family and
friends where he was a re-
nown storyteller; routine-
ly keeping everyone
mesmerized for hours. He
and Loretta enjoyed coffee
and sweets at home and
especially breakfast with a
close-knit group of friends
at Schatz Truck Stop in
Minot. Joe was a success-
ful farmer in Balta and a
well-known and well-
liked businessman in the
farm implement industry
in Bottineau. He loved to
hunt and fish and made
many trips with friends
throughout the US and
Canada. An expert weld-
er and mechanic, Joe
loved spending time in
the shop making projects
like his huge “Hogger”
trailer-mounted BBQ grill,
Loretta’s donut fryer and a
custom-made pontoon
trailer. Busy as he was,
he always had time to
stop and have coffee and
pie with his friends or to
help others – especially
midnight car repairs with
his grandkids and their
friends. One of his favor-
ite pastimes were the
many pontoon trips on
Lake Metigoshe with his
many friends from both
the US and Canada.
Joe is survived by
Loretta, his wife of 67
years; Sons, Larry (Barb)
Schmaltz, Parker, CO, and
Terry Schmaltz, Sydney,
Australia; Daughters, Con-
nie (Brian) Zahn, Denver,
CO, Coleen (Todd) Stu-
trud, Barton, ND, Carla
(Rob) Eisenzimmer, Bot-
tineau, ND, Donna (Keith)
Stratton, Westhope, ND
and JoAnn (Andy) Early,
Bismarck, ND; Son-in-
law, Dale Volk, Rugby
ND; Grandchildren, Laura
Zahn (Charles DeRosa),
Christina (Jared) White,
Christopher (Sadie) Volk,
Keighly Johnson, Kendra
(Chad) Miller, Scott
Schmaltz, Joshua (Mor-
gan) Stutrud, Aaron (Hay-
den) Eisenzimmer, Dylan
(Alyssa) Stratton, Paige
Stratton, Austin Schmaltz,
Estelle Schmaltz, Darius
“De” Ellis, Luke Early,
Andy Early, and Spencer
Early; eighteen great-
grandchildren and num-
erous nieces, nephews
and cousins.
He was preceded in
death by his daughter,
Cindy, and granddaughter
Morgan; his parents;
brothers James and Clem;
and sisters Mary Thomp-
son, Kathy Teigen and
Carol Jacobson.
Mass of Christian Buri-
al: Wednesday, February
16th at 1100 a.m. at Our
Lady of Grace Catholic
Church in Minot.
Visitation and Rosary:
Tuesday, February 15th at
5 p.m. at Thompson Lar-
son Funeral Home in
Minot.
Those wishing to sign
the online register and
share memories may ac-
cess the online obituaries
section at (www.
thompsonlarson.com).