Jay Robert Schmidt, age 42, resident of Lakota, ND, died Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at MeritCare Hospital with his family at his side.

Jay was born May 17, 1967 in Devils Lake, ND, the son of Robert and Sharon (Ericksrud) Schmidt. He graduated from Lakota High School where he was in band, football, basketball, track, and FFA. He attended college at NDSU and graduated from NDSCS with a welding degree.

Jay enjoyed working by his Grandpa Carl's side on the family farm when he was young and later worked for Construction Engineers and Tri-Steel in Grand Forks. In 1992 he became the owner/operator of SSR Pump Company in Michigan, ND. Jay was united in marriage to DeAnn Borland on June 17, 1995 at Lakota Lutheran Church.

Jay, a.k.a. “The Bird”, was a very unique individual that had a great sense of humor with many one liners that a person could not compete with. He was a dedicated father to his two sons, Dalton and Derrick, and enjoyed taking them hunting and fishing. If you saw Jay, you saw the boys tagging right behind him with big smiles on their faces. He had a love for camping, demolition derbies, snowmobiling, and sponsored modified race cars. Jay had a great artistic talent in welding and re-created his ideas into his work for many farmers, businesses, family, and friends. He was an avid Vikings (Purple Pride) and Bison fan. Jay also had a love for fireworks and he did not need it to be the 4th of July to enjoy them.

Jay will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Jay is survived by his wife, DeAnn; sons, Dalton Timothy, age 8 and Derrick Jay, age 3; mother and stepfather, Sharon and Stan Orness, Devils Lake; brother, Dean (Stacy) and son, Tarell, Odenton, MD; maternal grandmother, Jeanette Ericksrud, Lakota; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Tim; his father, Robert; grandfather, Carl Ericksrud; grandparents, Paul and Mathilda Schmidt; and his best friend, Spook (dog).

Jay's Funeral Service will be held at Lakota Lutheran Church on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Joel Westby. The organist will be Karen Fowler, and special music will be sung by Lonnie Gestson. Interment will be in the Lakota Cemetery. The casketbearers will be Steve Leith, Brent Borland, Jeff Schemionek, Mark Slotto, Grant Lillehaugen, and Tom Hendrickson. Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, ND, on Saturday, October 24th, after 2:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Sunday, from 4:30 p.m. until the time of service.