Florence Caroline Schmidt, age 93, of Rochester died May 11, 2011. She was born June 10, 1917 in Minneapolis, MN to Christian T. and Frances Dressel Schmidt. Florence was the oldest of four siblings: Bernice Wikoff, Doris (Oliver) King and Christian Schmidt who preceded her in death. Also preceded in death by dear friend, Nellie Blee.  Survived by brother-in-law  Howard Wikoff of Crookston, MN;  sister-in-law Janet Schmidt (Paul) Morreim  of Northfield and twelve nieces and nephews.  Florence valued her niece Kay King (Zachary Doering) and her friends: Lorraine Koel, Jim Dittrich, Jeanette Anderson, Marcella Scalcini, Doris Blondell, Janet and Ron O'Brien, Brenda and Jim Rossman, Carol and Don Smidt, Judy and Paul Schultz, George Cornelius and their families as well as many other cousins and friends.

Florence grew up in Minneapolis and spent childhood summers at her Grandma Dressel's farm in Le Sueur, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. degree in 1939 and completed her dietetic internship at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. She was a registered dietician (clinical) there until her retirement in 1982, in-part, responsible for dietetic interns. In retirement, Florence spent over 10 years volunteering as a practice patient for Mayo medical residents and as a research study participant for Mayo Alzheimer's Research Center.

Florence enjoyed travel, classical music, flowers, birds, the news and everything medical. She most recently traveled to Japan in 2002.

Thank you to the staff of Golden Living Rochester East (particularly to Barbara in PT) and to Seasons Hospice.  There will be a celebration of Florence's life at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011 at Macken Funeral Home, River Park Chapel Rochester.  Internment Crystal Lake Cemetery, Minneapolis.   Memorials are suggested to Salvation Army Rochester (www.usc.salvationarmy.org/rochester).