Milton Martin Schutte was born on May 8, 1921, to Dick and Minnie (Janshen) Schutte, in Viola Township, Osceola County, Iowa. He grew up on the farm near Sibley, Iowa and attended rural school through the eighth grade.
For a time, he farmed and did carpentry work. On December 7, 1946, Milton was united in marriage to Vida Jean Taylor at Sibley, Iowa. To this marriage five children were born: Lyle, Mary, Mark, Daryl, and Joel.
Milton and Vida farmed in the Sibley area until 1958, when they moved to a farm six miles south of Dawson. After his retirement, his interests included restoring antique farm machinery and trucks. He also enjoyed traveling and attending threshing shows and swap meets. He liked the fellowship with others both locally and when traveling. The First Presbyterian Church was also an important part of his life.
On Wednesday, April 8, 1998, he passed away suddenly at the age of 76 years and 11 months.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Ted and Ernest; and one sister, Mildred Prins.
He is survived by his wife, Vida; children: Lyle of Dawson, MN, Mark and wife, Marsha of Dawson, MN, Mary Stumm and husband, Mike, of Sioux Falls, SD, Daryl and wife, Becky of Dawson, MN, and Joel and wife, Lori of Dawson, MN; grandchildren: Troy, Travis, Leah, and Holly Schutte, Erica Stumm, Samantha, Derrek, Priscilla, and Kyle Schutte, and Kristin Schutte; brother, Kenneth and wife, Mayme Schutte, sister, Dorothy Van Diepen, brother-in-law, Henry Prins, and sister-in-law, Margaret Schutte, all of Sibley, Iowa.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 pm, April 11, 1998, at the First Presbyterian Church in Dawson with Pastor's Daniel Billings and Wayne Shelton officiating. The prelude included a piano solo by grandson, Troy Schutte. The congregational hymns included "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" and "Take My Life, That It May Be Consecrated" which were accompanied by the organist, Florence Gebur. Doug and Sharilyn Bates sang "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" as a vocal duet and Pastor John Norland sang "The Lord's Prayer" as a vocal solo. The casketbearers were Donald Lindblad, Stanley Miller, Robert Pehrson, Gerald Van Diepen, John Van Diepen, Douglas Schutte, Ted Schutte, Jr., and Dan Schutte. Interment was in the Dawson Cemetery.