Cyril Alphonse Schmidt, 87, died Wednesday at his home in Hays, Kan.

Born Sept. 21, 1917, in Catherine, Kan., he was the son of Paul and Catherine Walters Schmidt.

Mr. Schmidt and his wife were presented with the Master Farmer, Master Homemaker Award by Kansas State University and received the Salina Diocesan Rural Commission Stewardship Award for outstanding stewardship of the land in the community and the church. He was a leader in numerous local and state dairy organizations in his area and received numerous awards.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1325 and the Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He was an active member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Hays.

Surviving are seven children, Margaret Rolen of Hermiston, Ore., Tom Schmidt of Leavenworth, Kan., Charles Schmidt of Topeka, Kan., former Butler resident Allen Schmidt of Stafford, Va., Paul Schmidt of Chesapeake, Va., Laura Sadeghi of Hays and Jean Kiser of Logan, Kan.; 27 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He also is survived by brothers, Jerome, Marion and Donald Schmidt; and sisters, Loretta Joy, Helen Edmonds, Cecilia Quint and Mary Schmidt.

His wife, Kiliana Pfeifer Schmidt, whom he married Aug. 23, 1943, in Hays, died March 3, 2003. Three brothers and a sister also preceded him in death.

SCHMIDT - Friends of Cyril Alphonse Schmidt, who died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. today and 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday at HAYS MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 1906 Pine St., Hays, Kan. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Hays. Burial will be at the church cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to the Thomas More Prep-Marian High School or to Holy Family Elementary School in care of the funeral home.