Rita Hamm

Rita R. Hamm, age 95 of Melrose, died Monday, October 20, 2014 at the CentraCare Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 24 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Ken Thielman officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. The Christian Mothers, Catholic Order of Foresters and the American Legion Auxiliary will pray at 6 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Rita Rose Marie Theroux was born September 10, 1919 in Terrebonne, Minnesota to Joseph and Lea (Quesnel) Theroux. She was united in marriage to Rene Lizotte who passed away on July 19, 1973. Rita married Rolland Hamm on June 26, 1981 in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and resided in Melrose.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers, Catholic Order of Foresters and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 101. Rita enjoyed reading the newspaper, playing Bridge with her card groups, and watching the Minnesota Twins.

Survivors include her children, Gerald (LouAnn) Lizotte of Cloquet, Joyce Killian of Sebring, Florida, Joan (Sheldon) Budde of Grey Eagle, Judy (Mark) Cox of Mounds View, and Faye Lizotte of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; two step-children, Rolland (Pat) Hamm and Connie (Keith) MacMurry; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren; brother, Marvin ("B.J.") Theroux; and sister, Barbara Fay.

Rita was preceded in death by her husbands, Rene Lizotte and Rolland Hamm; son, Joseph Lizotte; grandson, Mike Lizotte; brothers, Gary Theroux, Clinton Theroux, and Paul Theroux; and sisters, Dorothy Bower, and Eva Mae Bergeron.

Serving as casket bearers will be Sheldon Budde, Joan Budde, Gerald Lizotte, LouAnn Lizotte, Faye Lizotte, Judy Cox, Mark Cox, and Jodi Budde. Cross bearer will be Tom Budde and scripture bearer will be Kathy Budde.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to your favorite charity or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation or the ALS Association.