Alice Margaret (Blackburn) Schmele was born on November 1, 1936, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Charles Carl and Ethel Marie Blackburn. Alice passed away peacefully on February 16, 2026, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, at the age of 89.
She is survived by her children: Nadine (Dwight) Sandoz of St. Paul, Nebraska; Carol (Klemen) Vidic of Ljubljana, Slovenia; Mary (Nathan) Johnson of Grand Forks, North Dakota; Joanne (Brian) Wise of Orange City, Iowa; and Donna Phillips of Grand Forks, North Dakota;19 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and one on the way.
She was preceded in death by her son, James (Jimmy) Paul Schmele; sister, Ruth “Foat” Blackburn; brother, Harry Blackburn; and great-grandchildren, Bridger Johnson and Lillian Sandoz.
The funeral service will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Dakota Life Christian Center in Newell, South Dakota, with burial following at Hope Cemetery.
You may sign her online guestbook and send condolences to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com