Clarence Ritter

Clarence J. Ritter, age 88 of Melrose, died Thursday, January 3, 2013 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, January 7 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will be in St. Rose of Lima cemetery in St. Rosa.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council will pray at 5 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Clarence Joseph Ritter was born September 12, 1924 in Melrose, Minnesota to Joseph and Catherine (Vornbrock) Ritter. He was united in marriage to Monica Sand on June 8, 1954. Monica passed away on April 26, 1974. He then married Rita Feldewerd Stoermann on December 27, 1975 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. Clarence farmed north of Melrose and was a groundskeeper at Meadowlark Golf Course for 20 years. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and the Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council. Clarence enjoyed farming and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Rita C. Ritter of Melrose; children, Carol (Jim) Frericks of Melrose, Shirley (Kenneth) Tschida of Melrose, Patricia (Daniel) Groetsch of Albany, Marlene (Mike) Tiemann of Melrose, Sandy (Neil) Bueckers of Sauk Rapids, and Pamela Ritter of Melrose; 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Rita H. Ritter of Freeport, Vera Ritter of Melrose, and Bernadette (Vic) Koenig of St. Cloud.

Clarence was preceded in death by his first wife, Monica Ritter; parents; sisters, Ernestine Zenzen and Irene Lahr; and brothers, Roman Ritter, Gilbert Ritter, Alquin Ritter and Albert Ritter.

Serving as casket bearers will be Brian Frericks, Russell Frericks, Keith Tschida, Corey Tschida, Justin Frieler, Matthew Bueckers, Christopher Frieler, and Kyle Tschida. Cross bearer will be Loren Frericks and scripture bearer will be Sara Haag. Honorary bearers will be Cahil Tschida, Adam Frericks, Kevin Frericks, Katrina Strugar, and Nathaniel Groetsch. Gift bearers will be Jennifer Frieler, Sara Haag, and Ashley Bueckers and the lector will be Ashley Bueckers.