Ruben Frederick Arnold Schmidt

Dr. Ruben Frederick Schmidt was born on October 8, 1920, in Gresham, WI, to Alfred and Irmgard (Rhubush) Schmidt. He attended country school near his home farm, elementary school in Gresham, and graduated from Schawano, WI High School in 1937.  Ruben received an undergraduate degree in Science from the College of Letters and Science and a medical degree in family medicine and surgery from the University of Wisconsin in 1943. Although inducted into the Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps in 1939 while at the University of Wisconsin, he enlisted into the Army Specialized Training program on July 8 - November 19, 1943. He was discharged at graduation and deferred during internship and residency.  He began active service at the rank of First Lieutenant in the Army Medical Corp in 1945 serving at numerous locations within the US.  His rank changed to Captain when he was sent to Cheju Province, Korea for 1 1/2 years as a Public Health and Welfare officer.  Prior to leaving for Korea he married Pearl Elinor Peterson who was fortunate to join Ruben in Korea during the last half of his non-wartime service in that country.
After returning from Korea in 1947, Ruben was discharged from the army and began his medical practice in Alden, Minnesota (previous practice of Dr. T. M. Hansen). He and Pearl had three children : Rebecca, Rachel, and David Kim.  In 1972, Pearl passed away after a battle with cancer.  On November 3, 1973, Ruben was united in marriage to Ila Joan Iverson at Silver Lake Lutheran Church.  They lived in Alden where Ruben continued his medical practice and Ila worked as a nurse supervisor at Naeve Hospital.

Ruben was a shy and very private, yet principled, man who had a strength of conviction that led to action – always with a goal for betterment of the community.  As a ‘Family Practice Doc,’ Ruben (known as ‘Doc Schmidt’) was an insightful diagnostician, and his dedication to his medical practice in the Alden community continued well into a second generation of patients - surpassing, on more than one occasion, his goal to deliver a child to a mother whom he had also delivered. He served as Alden community mayor for 14 years (1953-1967) and kept the Village of Alden vital during his tenure.  Two most notable accomplishments include: The conversion of ‘party line’ telephone service to ‘private’ self-dial telephone service; and Installation of the Alden sewer system (1963) that provided considerable financial savings for the community before sewer systems were a state mandate.  He was also active in the Alden Lions Club and Alden Area Development.

Ruben’s life of service also expanded beyond the Alden Community. His appreciation for history led to his involvement in the development of the Alden Museum which contains history from the Southern region of Minnesota .  His love of learning and dedication to accessible post high school education motivated Ruben to join a group of regional leaders, who founded Lea College, which evolved into Riverland Community College.
Ruben retired from Medicine in 1985 after 37 years as a practicing physician. Prior to retirement, Ruben joined the Albert Lea medical center staff, and the Alden Clinic became one of their satellite clinics.  This ensured continued local medical care for the Alden community.  
Ruben died on March 11, 2013 at the age of 92 years at Thorne Crest Retirement Community.  He is survived by his wife, Ila; his brother, Claude Schmidt - Wichita, KS; daughter Rebecca (and Glenn) Taibl - Saint Paul, Minnesota; daughter Rachel Bhattacharyya - El Paso, Texas; and son David Kim (and Margaret) Schmidt - Luverne, Minnesota. There are also six grandchildren and one great grandchild: Erika Lynn Taibl (and Andrew Wilkowske with Annika Maj Wilkowske) - Saint Paul; Rita Bhattacharyya - Raleigh, NC; Nina Bhattacharyya – Providence, RI; Isaac Schmidt – Inver Grove Heights, MN; Aaron Schmidt – Golden Valley, MN; and Jay Bhattacharyya – Denton, TX.  He was preceded in death by his first wife, Pearl Elinor Peterson, and his father and mother.  
Blessed be the memory of Ruben F. Schmidt
Memorials preferred to Redeemer Lutheran Church Endowment Fund or Naeve Hospital Foundation.