Rita Bauer

Rita M. Bauer, age 87 of Elrosa, died Thursday, December 3, 2009 at her home in Elrosa, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday, December 5 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa with Rev. Jeff Ethan officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church in Elrosa.

Rita Mary Backes was born September 19, 1922 in Farming Minnesota to Joseph and Benedicta (Willenbring) Backes. On June 30, 1947, she was united in marriage to Jerome Bauer at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Farming. After their marriage, the couple moved to Elrosa where they began their family. Rita and Jerome enjoyed 26 years of marriage until Jerome's passing on Christmas in 1973. Rita enjoyed playing cards, BINGO, crocheting, knitting, and was a great homemaker. She loved her family, her cats and her birds.

Rita is survived by her children, David (Angie) Bauer of Elrosa, Dale (Barb) Bauer of Brainerd, MaryAnn Bauer of Elrosa and Marlene Bauer of Elrosa; ten grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and sister, Isabel (Herbert) Schefers of Foley; sisters-in-law, Ann Backes of Farming, Hilde Backes of Avon, Theresa Backes of St. Cloud, and Evelyn Roelike of Elrosa; brother-in-law, Frank Hall of Sauk Centre.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome Bauer on December 25, 1973; parents; brothers and sisters, Raymond, Louise, Leander, Susan, Bertha, Verina, Harold, Albin, Herbert, Clarence, and Arthur.Serving as casket bearers will be her grandsons, Chad Bauer, Perry Bauer, Ryan Bauer, Mathew Bauer, Joshua Bauer, and Justin Bauer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Poor Clares.