Kermit Schauer

SERVICE MOVED TO 2:00 PM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2022

Kermit K. Schauer, 90, Bismarck, ND, passed away Thursday, October 20, 2022 at Edgewood Vista in Bismarck.

Kermit was born on a farmstead NW of Streeter on April 9, 1932 to Fred and Matilda (Dockter) Schauer.

He lived on the farm until he was 11 or 12 (7^th grade), and at that time the family moved to Streeter. In his younger years, Kermit worked on the farm for his Uncle Emil or John Dockter. Kermit went through 12^th grade and graduated in 1949. He played a saxophone in the Streeter High School band and was on the basketball team.

Kermit served in the military. He was in the 188 Field Artillery. He was activated in January 15, 1951 and went to Ft Rucker for basic training. During basic training, he got an orders that he was to be sent to Korea. Kermit was in communications and served in Korea from January 15, 1951 until September 1952. He also served in the National Guard until 1958.

While in the military, Kermit received several metals: Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, American Presidential Citation, Korean War Presidential Citation, Army Commendation Metal, Bronze Star, Korean War Veteran Metal, and American Defense Metal.

When Kermit came back stateside in 1952, he went to Fargo and attended Dakota Business College and took classes in accounting. In January 1953 Kermit attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, and took accounting classes.

During his time at Fargo and Grand Forks, he dated Phyllis Sayler whenever they could get together. Sometimes Kermit would pick Phyllis up from Valley City where she was attending college and together they would travel to Streeter where both their parents lived.

Kermit married Phylllis Sayler on October 16, 1955 in Streeter. At that time Kermit worked for Otter Tail Power Company as a stock clerk. Otter Tail Power Company moved them to Fergus Falls where Kermit worked in the payroll department. Their first child, Daniel Kermit was born there.

Kermit and the family then moved to Jamestown. There Kermit and Phyllis had their second child, Galeila Gail. Kermit worked in Jamestown about a year and a half. Then Kermit and Phyllis moved to Grand Forks where Kermit went back to the University of North Dakota and finished his BS degree in Business Administration in December 1959.

In January 1960, Kermit got a job with Eide and Helmeke, a Certified Public Accountant firm in Fargo as a staff accountant. On February 24, 1960, they had their third child, Vance Sheldon. In the spring of 1961, Kermit took and passed his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. In May 1964, the family moved to Jamestown and Kermit started his own accounting practice.  During their time in Jamestown, a fourth child was born, Grant Steven and a fifth child was born, Marina Rae.

In Jamestown, Kermit was a member and active in the Civil Air Patrol in 1967. He became Squadron Commander and then became Wing Commander and was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1973. 

In 1977 Kermit sold his CPA firm in Jamestown and he and Phyllis moved to Las Cruces, NM.  He started a second successful CPA firm. Kermit studied, tested and earned many different certifications, including Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Management Accounting, and Certified Credit Union Executive. All these certifications supported extra services in his business. Kermit retired in 2005 and sold the CPA firm in Las Cruces.

Kermit was very active in Masonry and other organizations throughout his lifetime. He was:

• Master of Jamestown Lodge (1972)
• Rainbow Dad for Rainbow during daughter Galeila’s term as Worthy Advisor
• Member of the Grand Cross of Colors
• Worthy Matron and Patron of Las Cruces Chapter Number 20 for Order of Eastern Star
• An officer in the Grand York Rite as the Grand Commander
• Past Grand Commander of the Grand Commandry of the Knights Templar in NM (1995)
• Past Grand Illustrious Master of Royal and Select Masters of NM (2001)
• Past Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Masons of NM
• Past Grand Governor of the York Rite Colleges.
• Member of National Order of Sojourner Past President
• Southwest Representative for Sojourners
• Member of Nation Council of Royal and Select Masters 
• Member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, Purple Heart, and the Korean War Veterans
• Licensed airplane pilot, used the plane when he served in the Civil Air Patrol

Kermit was a huge advocate of education. He went on to get his Master’s Degree in Education in 1979 and his Doctorate (Ed.D) in Education in 1983. He was very proud of the fact that his wife and all his children also had degrees.

After getting his doctorate, Kermit taught classes for several different universities: Golden Gate University at Holloman Air Force Base; Florida Institute of Technology at Holloman, New Mexico State University; and Troy University in Holloman Air Force Base, Great Falls, MN and Tucson, AZ.

Kermit has always been very active with ham radio. Being in communication in the military started Kermit’s interest in ham radio. Once Kermit got his novice ham radio license, he went on to get his general class and extra class. Within ham radio if an individual works so many counties across the United States, they receive a certificate. Out of 3077 counties, Kermit worked 3065 counties. He did receive his “3000 County” certificate. He was trying to get a certificate for working all 3077 counties, but didn’t quite make it. Kermit has the DXCC, which means he talked to people in 100 different countries.

Kermit is survived by his five children, Daniel (Cheryl) Schauer, San Antonio, TX; Galeila Schauer, Bismarck, ND; Vance (Toni) Schauer, Rapid City, SD; Grant (Marlene) Schauer, Las Cruces, NM; Marina (Gus) Gandara, Las Cruces, NM; 9 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; 3 brothers and 1 sister.

Kermit was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis in 2021, his parents, and 3 sisters.

The service will be recorded and uploaded Friday afternoon.