She was raised in Park City, Utah by her two parents and alongside her two younger siblings, Cameron and Sylvia. The Hansen household was a tightly run ship. Things were done on time and in a proper order. This upbringing gave Jessie a love and appreciation for order and correctness. She would talk about the gatherings her parents would host, where neighbors and friends would gather to eat, laugh, and play cards.
Jessie graduated from Park City High School, where she participated in marching band, student government, and girls’ basketball. In her youth she worked summers as a counselor at Camp Cloud Rim.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Utah State University.
Her first marriage, to Willis Riley Smith on August 26, 1955, was cut short when Willis died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a uranium mining accident the following year.
She served a proselyting mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland. Reportedly, she was a “powerhouse” missionary. She worked tirelessly to serve and love those the Lord placed in her path. In later years she would speak fondly of the country and people. Whether feeding the Lord’s sheep or the neighborhood kids a pile of bologna sandwiches, Jessie’s life is woven with a pattern of feeding, a love of nature and people, and hard work.
She married Marvin Parker Schmid of Bern, Idaho on October 5, 1963 in a civil ceremony in the home of Marvin’s sister, Zenna Mae, and brother-in-law, Eugene Bridges, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She wore a smart, blue crepe dress and carried a bouquet of marigolds. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.
Jessie taught elementary school for a total of 30 years. Preferring the upper grades, she finally settled on the 4th grade as her favorite year to teach. Her own children were often enlisted to help get her classroom set up for the year, making bulletin boards and getting all the books, desks, and supplies organized so that when the students arrived, she was ready to greet, teach, and love every student in her classroom. Although her children always appreciated the reward of a bottled soda from the faculty room, the sweetest reward was that whenever one of her former students figured out they were one of Jessie’s children, it was inevitably followed with, “Oh, she was my favorite teacher!”
As their family grew and circle of friends increased, Jessie would often recreate the gatherings she saw her parents host. These gatherings were not limited to the home. They happened around the campfire, on the beach, or meeting at a favorite restaurant. She loved to gather people around the table. These frequent dinners with family or friends often transitioned into a game night of Rook, Uno, Runaway Train or even Husker-Do.
From her upbringing and missionary service, Jessie had an appreciation for nature and the outdoors. She and Marvin loved to travel, usually with family and friends to campgrounds, national parks, and global attractions. So many summers at Bear Lake, Rockport, or Willard Bay, where dad would spend all day in the boat dragging would-be water skiers, she would be organizing lunches and treats to fill all the sunburnt bellies. Even an autumn car ride back to Park City to see the changing leaves would thrill her. In recent years, a favorite evening activity was to sit and stare across Marianna Street as flocks of different birds flew by and watch the grey Wasatch mountains turn pink as the sun set over the Oquirrhs.
Jessie enjoyed attending basketball games. Many years of season Jazz tickets with family and friends have built a treasure trove of happy memories. The win or loss was not an indicator of a successful evening. Wins were celebrated with hot dogs, burgers, and ice cream. Losses were consoled with hotdogs, burgers, and ice cream. Jessie knew how to have fun. The only team Jessie would root harder for than the Utah Jazz, would be whatever team her child or grandchild was playing on.
Jessie delighted and excelled in service. Throughout her life, she held many official church callings but never needed a title to step in and be the Savior’s hands, to wipe the tear, to bring the meal, to lend the ear. There were always M&Ms, Skittles, Swedish Fish, or licorice in some cupboard of her kitchen. Together, she and Marvin served in the Salt Lake Inner City Mission. The ferocity of their service was humbling to witness as collections of food, clothing, bedding, or whatever was needed to help families and individuals gain self-reliance moved through their home like a charity tsunami. This was ministering. She made pure love look simple. All she needed was a small spiral bound notebook.
When something needs to be done, the best time to do it, in her words, would be “now.”
On January 27, 2023, Jessie was called home. The Lord needs her now.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Clements and Kathryn Hansen; her brothers, Paul, Donald, and Cameron and wife Beverly Hansen; and three grandchildren, Clements Schmid, Elizabeth Schmid, and Brooks Butterfield.
She is survived by her husband, Marvin Schmid; sister, Sylvia, and husband Melvin Shields; children, Perry and wife Nancy Schmid, Susan and husband Travis Smith, Steven and wife Katherine Schmid, and Colleen and husband Bret Butterfield; and grandchildren, Ryan Schmid, Abigail Schmid, Atalee Smith, August and wife Megan Schmid, Trevor Smith, Eleanor Schmid, Ian Schmid, Isabelle Smith, Alyssa Schmid, Jessica Butterfield, Rachel Butterfield, and Kayci Butterfield.
A celebration of her life will be held at Valley View Funeral Home with interment to follow.
Live Stream of Funeral Service available the day of.
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