Winnie Schmidt
Age: 92.
Residence: Baxter.
What you’re known for: “My fudge. I’ve made it since I was little. When I was a kid it was something I had to stir. We made every Christmas. I make it for my friends and family now. They tell me they don’t want any Christmas gifts so I give them fudge instead.”
What was your main job in your working days: “I worked at the hardware store in Staples for 26 years. My brother worked there too. He was always razzing me.
“He (brother) often times would take us women to Aldrich for its ribs. He was always good to me. I had three brothers and they’re all gone now. I was the second oldest of six.”
Family: Her husband, Delbert, passed away in 1991 and they have three children; seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Any hobbies: “I knit. Del’s mother taught me everything I know ... One year I made 200 hats and donated them to a shelter for the needy children.
“I belonged to a knitting club for 60 years, but they haven’t met for years.”
Childhood memory: “My mother made flowers out of paper and we’d sell them to make money for Christmas.”
Other memories: “When Del and I got married we moved into his parents’ house. I was 20. She (Del’s mom) had 17 children and my husband was the baby. The house didn’t have any electricity or running water. We had to pump water from the outside.”