Casey Jo Schulte, formerly of Montevideo, MN, passed away at her home Wednesday, August 19, 2015 in Fargo, ND at the age of 26.
Memorial services will be held Friday, August 28, 2015 at 7:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Montevideo. Pastor Gwen Bohlke and Fr. Paul Timmerman will officiate and interment will be at Sunset Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation will be held for one hour before the services at the church Friday evening.
Casey Jo Schulte was born on September 3, 1988 in Montevideo Minnesota. She attended school here and had many interesting adventures in her life. As a young girl, she liked to hunt frogs (and cook them over a fire), ride her bike, play in the woods, go to Hill Store to buy candy, hang out with the neighbors, go to the swimming pool, never wear shoes in the summer and just "play". As she got older in school she developed a passion for two sports, swimming and dance. She was talented and earned the opportunity to participate at a state level in both of them. She placed 5th at the state in swimming her senior year, which was a feat in itself since she had just had two surgeries just months before. When she wanted something she was driven and tenacious. She wasn't afraid to be unique, she liked to color her hair blue, pink and purple. She was an accomplished snow boarder and loved to ride her longboard. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and was confirmed there in 2006, she attended a mission trip to Guatemala with members of her church, she treasured her memories from that and looked forward to returning someday. Her high school time allowed her to develop great friendships, that she treasured. When she graduated high school she moved to Fargo, ND to attend North Dakota State University for Radiological Technology. Casey also worked at PRACS, where she met some of her dearest friends to this day. During her first year at college, she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and returned back to Montevideo briefly. While she was here, she worked as a phlebotomist at the Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital. She again made many friends; her beautiful smile and her brown eyes were memorable to many. Casey took the time to attend and complete Yoga Teacher Training as well, she was very spiritual and found comfort in the teachings she received there. Casey moved to Alexandria to attend Alex Tech for nursing. She became endeared to many of the students and teachers while attending school there. Unfortunately, during her first year, she became very sick and had surgery. What was to be routine, ended up being anything but. She developed several complications and had subsequent surgeries as a result. She ended up spending nearly 17 weeks in the hospital over the course of the next year and a half. She survived, because she's a fighter - but it came at a cost. She had lost her spirit and it was difficult for her to see how to move into a routine life. After a short recovery in Alex, she moved back to Fargo, where she lived until she passed away.
Casey's true passion was to find a cure for the disease that she struggled with every day. She walked in fundraising walks, she advocated for other patients and educated doctors, she studied up and learned about her disease. Her legacy wasn't her disease, but she would want everyone to participate in a Take Steps walk near them or donate to the National Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Casey had a Conquer Crohn's tattoo on her left arm, that always reminded her to keep fighting.
Casey Jo is survived by her mom and her step dad, Shelly and Tim Elkington; her dad, Wayne Schulte; her brothers: Zachary Schulte, Cole Schulte, Taylor Schulte and little sister, Eva Schulte; her grandmothers: Lois Phillips and Irma Schulte. She has numerous aunts and uncles in her blended family and her many cousins were her friends, they were all very close. Family was most important to Casey.
She was proceeded in death by her grandfathers: Paul Phillips, Leland Schulte and Aubrey Elkington; grandmother, Aileen Elkington; aunts: Patricia and Penny; and uncles: Peter, Hank and Delane; and her cousin, Jennifer.