James Lloyd Schmidt was born prematurely at 23 weeks in Rochester, MN at the Methodist Hospital of the Mayo Clinic to parents Erin & Erik Schmidt. His mother Erin was quite sick and was never able to hold baby James, but there were many family members present to welcome him into this world with hopes and prayers for his life. James was baptized in the waters of our Lord and put up a valiant fight for his life as a very small preemie. Unfortunately, his little body just didn't have the strength to fight against a lung infection, and James went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his loving mother Erin on July 11, 2022.

James' parents were quite surprised when they learned they would be adding to their family. When they learned their new family member was a boy, the anticipation and excitement of the whole family was near ecstatic! While James never got to experience the fun of annoying his three big sisters, bask in the cuddling love of his parents, or experience the thrill of learning to hunt, fish, or trap with his dad, his memory, his beautiful little body, his animated movements…will be forever etched in their minds. It was a most special day when Dad & his three sisters were all able to visit him, to touch his tender skin, and hold his tiny hands.

When the family had to leave Mayo to lay his beloved Mother to rest, Auntie Sarah was able to visit him several times. She spent tender moments reading stories to him and decorating his room with family photos and toys. Technology even allowed the family to visit with James via Facetime many times in his short life and the nurses commented how his heart monitor showed his positive response to those visits.

Baby James captured our hearts in his very short life. We will forever remember his waving arms; his kicking feet; his hand movements; and his facial expressions. He captured the hearts of anyone who came to know him, especially so the nursing staff. One wrote how she so loved his fuzzy little head; his tiny little toes; how beautiful and strong he was. Our faith tells us James is at rest in heaven, resting in the arms of his beautiful Mother and our Lord Jesus Christ.

James was a part of three families, and is survived by his father Erik; sisters Laura Hovland, Jill, and Heidi; his Schmidt family: grandparents Suzanne and Brad, West Fargo, ND; uncle John (Laura), West Fargo, ND and aunt Sarah (Chris), Grap, Richfield, MN. His Cramer family: grandparents Tammy & Wayne, Huron, SD; aunts Amy (Darren) Thorsteinson, Detroit Lakes, MN; Anna (Beau) Fraser, Rapid City, SD and uncles John (Kyleigh), Brookings, SD; godfather and uncle and Mark (Robin), Georgetown, TX; and Paul, Yankton, SD. His Hovland family: grandparents Anita & Carl, Buffalo, ND; uncle Paul (Marie), Buffalo, ND, and aunt Bekah (Ryan) Lee, Casselton, ND. James is also survived by many cousins; his great grandparents Marlene Cramer (Rapid City, SD), Muriel Pigors (Aberdeen, SD), and Lenora (Schmidt) & Joe Glasser, along with many great aunts & uncles in all the three families.

James joins in heaven his mother Erin; his sister Laura's father, Daniel Hovland; and his great grandfathers Lloyd Cramer, Lloyd Pigors, Emma & Ervin Swezey, and James 'Jim' Schmidt.