Josephine Patricia Schneider

Funeral services for Josephine Schneider of Morris, MN will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chokio, with Father Virgil Helmin and Father Todd Schneider celebrating the mass. Visitation will be held Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., with a rosary at 7 at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Morris.

Josephine “Jo” Patricia Schwientek was born on March 17, 1924 in Two Rivers Township, Morrison County, Minnesota the oldest of 10 children to Joseph and Frances (Gallus) Schwientek. She grew up on a farm in Two Rivers Township. She graduated from St. Francis High School in Little Falls in 1942.

While in high school, she went to work in the home of a local family who was expecting a baby. Through that family she met her husband, Bernard “Ben” Schneider. After Ben completed his 51 missions, the couple was married on September 18, 1944, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Elmdale, Minnesota. They lived in Biloxi, Mississippi while Ben was stationed at Keesler Field. Following Ben’s military service, they moved to Bowlus, Minnesota where Ben operated a blacksmith shop. In 1949, they moved to Stevens County to a farm north of Morris and in 1958 purchased a farm in Synnes Township South of Alberta. The couple moved to Morris in 1988.

Jo was a devoted wife and mother. Ben always said she was his business manager as she farmed along side of him. She planted a large garden every year and canned much of the produce she raised. She sewed many quilts over the years making one for each of her children and grandchildren. Jo also sewed many wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses for weddings in her family. She was well known for her coffee cakes that made it to all of the family gatherings.

Jo was a “behind-the-scene” type of person. She never expected her deeds to be recognized whether it was working in her church or in the community. She enjoyed daily walks on the Green River Bike Path and was an inspiration to a lot of people at the Regional Fitness Center after it was built.

Josephine died on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at the Courage Cottage in Morris, MN; she was 102 years old.

She is survived by six children: Jim (Dorothy) Schneider of Alberta, Sue Just of Montevideo, Naomi “Amy” Trutwin of Bowlus, Jenell (Scott) Staples of Morris, Bob (Lois) Schneider of Alberta and Pat (Cindy) Schneider of Morris; 19 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; siblings: Stella McGraw of Ft. Wayne, IN, Roger Schwientek of Monticello and Karlene (Bill) Herbrand of Parker, CO; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Schneider; two infant daughters; her parents; brothers: BJ Schwientek and Allen Schwientek; sisters: Mary Ann Cipala, Rita Atkinson, Elaine Rodseth and Lois West and two sons-in-law: David Trutwin and Gary Just.

Jo’s family would like to thank the Courage Cottage Staff for the excellent care she received during her time there. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Courage Cottage. The family will not be sending individual “thank you’s” but will be making an additional donation to the Courage Cottage.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, MN is in care of the arrangements for Jo.