Rita Loxtercamp

Rita M. Loxtercamp, age 91 of Melrose, died Monday, February 8, 2010 at the Melrose Area Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

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

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Christian Mothers, Women's Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Catholic Aid Association will pray at 6 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Rita Marie Schulte was born March 17, 1918, one of 13 children, to Henry and Elizabeth (Nathe) Schulte in Meire Grove. She attended District 51 grade school in Greenwald. She married Henry Loxtercamp on May 18, 1937 at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Greenwald. Shortly thereafter they moved to Melrose. Twin boys were born in 1938 and a daughter in 1941. Rita was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers, the Catholic Aid Association, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and also a choir member for 50 years. Rita enjoyed playing cards and was an avid golfer and bowler. One of her greatest passions in life was cleaning. She was a loving devoted wife and mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother and will be missed by all.

Survivors include her twin sons, Ron (Alice) Loxtercamp of Melrose and Don (Sharren) Loxtercamp of St. Cloud; son-in-law, Nick Braegelmann of Melrose; 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; and sisters, Lorraine (Ed) Schulzetenberg of Melrose and Eileen Otte of St. Cloud.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Henry in 2003; daughter, Doris Ann Braegelmann in 1995; parents; sisters, Jean Hackman, Louise Winter, Rose Raduenz, Marcella Lauer, and Irene Sobkoviak; and brothers, Anthony Schulte, Edwin Schulte, Alcuin Schulte, Wilfred Schulte and infant brother, Alois Schulte.

Serving as casket bearers will be Dale Loxtercamp, Steven Loxtercamp, Laurel Worms, Lynn Rademacher, Stephanie Skelton, Melissa Zimmermann, Melanie Loxtercamp, Kim Buhl, Gary Braegelmann, Jean Martin, and Jan Kvistad. Cross bearer will be Terry Braegelmann and scripture bearer will be Tricia Loxtercamp. Serving as honorary bearers will be Rita's great-grandchildren.Memorials are preferred to Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose.