Belva L Kerwood

Belva Lorraine Schmitt, the daughter of Sidney and Amy (Sinn) Schmitt, was born in Daykin on November 20, 1928. She passed away June 20, 2026 at Cedarwood Assisted Living, at the age of 97. Funeral Service details will be posted when available.

Belva was baptized and became a member of the Daykin Methodist Church on April 25, 1943. Belva graduated from Daykin High School in 1946. She attended the University of Nebraska during the summer and then taught school in Rural District #99 southwest of Daykin for three years.

She married Raymond F. Kerwood June 12, 1949, in Daykin and they lived on a farm Northwest of Alexandria. They lived there for 19 years, then moved a house to five miles north of Alexandria, remolded it and moved there in 1968. Two sons were born to this union: Douglas of Utica, NE and David of Blue Springs, MO.

Belva transferred her church membership on January 7, 1951 to the Alexandria Presbyterian Church where she was active in the Sunday School, Women’s group and was a Deacon for numerous years.

She was a part-time employee of the Meridian Public School for 22 years (1975 to 1997). She was a 4-H leader while her boys were in 4-H. Her hobbies were sewing, making numerous quilts, collecting salt & pepper shakers, having those from her mom’s collection and her grandmother’s, Alice Sinn’s.

Raymond and Belva belonged to the Daykin Senior Citizens and enjoyed the fellowship and playing cards with them and also another card group in the local area. She enjoyed doing computer work and made the Directory Book for the Alexandria Cemetery in 2004-05, updating it each year through 2016. She also helped with the Directory for the Eureka Cemetery near Daykin in 2006.

Belva is preceded in death by her husband Raymond on February 18, 2014; parents Sidney and Amy Schmitt; father and mother-in-law Donald and Ruth Kerwood, as well as brothers in law Kenneth (Jeannie) Kerwood, Marvin (Mildred) Kerwood.

She is survived by her children Douglas (Lori) Kerwood of Utica, NE, David (Roxanne) Kerwood of Blue Springs, MO, grandchildren, Daniel (Cindy) Kerwood of Alexandria, NE, Benjamin (A.J.) Kerwood, of Lincoln, NE, Nick Kerwood of York, NE, Christopher Kerwood of Grand Junction, CO, and Eric (Leah) Kerwood of Sedalia, MO. Great grandchildren Naomi Scheerer-Hamm, Zachariah Kerwood, Abby Kerwood, Austin Kerwood, Rylan Kerwood, Brady Kerwood, Elias Kerwood, Judah Kerwood, Damaeris Kerwood, great, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.