Rita Ritter

Rita M. Ritter, age 88 of St. Rosa, died Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday, October 9 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating and Rev. Art Hoppe concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church in St. Rosa. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Christian Mothers at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening at the church.

Rita Margaret Ritter was born on June 19, 1922 in Spring Hill, Minnesota to Joseph and Anna (Waldorf) Athmann. She attended and completed Spring Hill Elementary School through the 8th grade. Prior to her marriage, Rita was a housekeeper for 4 years in St. Cloud. She was united in marriage to George T. Ritter on May 23, 1946 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Spring Hill, Minnesota. They farmed together in St. Joseph for six years then moved to the farm near St. Rosa, where Rita raised chickens and sold eggs to pay the household expenses. Rita has been a resident of Pine Villa Care Center since January of 2008.

She was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa, Christian Mothers, Young at Heart Club, Freeport Goldenaires Senior Citizens, and the St. Rosa Senior Citizens. Rita enjoyed embroidering, quilting, socializing, and her trips to the casino. She went on many bus trips with her sister, Genevieve to Branson, Washington D.C., and other places throughout the United States.

Survivors include her children, Cherylene "Char" (Art) Westendorf of Melrose, Debra (Harold) Lahr of Sauk Centre, Kenneth Ritter of St. Rosa, Loren (Lisa) Ritter of Nisswa, and Laura (Steve) Boeckermann of Baxter; daughter-in-law, Jane (Kent) Brown of Melrose; 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; and sister, Genevieve Nathe of Circle Pines.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband, George Ritter, Sr., on June 1, 1995; parents; son, George Ritter, Jr., on December 11, 1992; infant twin daughters; brothers, Arnold Athmann and Wilfred Athmann; and step mother, Susan Waldorf.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jami Ritter, John Ritter, Bob Ritter, Greg Westendorf, Dan Lahr, Jenny Westendorf, and Theresa Lahr. Cross bearer will be Kristina Lahr and scripture bearer will be Reed Boeckermann. Honorary bearers will be the St. Rosa Christian Mothers and Marcie Welle. Petitions will be read by Sara Lahr and Krista Thull and gift bearers will be Laura Boeckermann and Loren Ritter. The eulogy will be read by Cindy Quarfoth.