June 21, 1956 – Monday, July 2, 2012
Service Information
Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo
Saturday, July 7, 2012
11:00 A.M.
Visitation Information
Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo
Friday, July 6, 2012
4-9:30 P.M.
Lucy Riethmiller, 56, beloved wife of Mark Riethmiller and mother of Reese Marie (12) passed away in Rochester, Minnesota at Methodist Hospital July 2, 2012. She succumbed to a battle with cancer she didn’t know she was fighting until May 31st of this year when she fell ill with a stomach ache. She had fought and won the battle with Ocular Melanoma in 2006 through radiation and prayer and amazingly kept her 20/20 vision. In tests as late as March 2011 no signs of cancer were found.
She and Mark spent their early married life in Texas. She was a travel agent and he was in civil engineering. After years of sending people on vacations and traveling a good part of the world herself, Lucy changed professions and led a spirit filled life helping people and creating Christian charity organizations. She enrolled at Christ for the Nations Institute in 1987 and graduated from Southwestern University of Waxahachie, TX in 1992 with a BA in Pastoral Counseling. Her biggest enjoyment came from advocating for people and helping them navigate through hard times. During her second career she has worked with YWCA Women’s Shelter in Bridgeport, CT; Modern Times Café for the homeless in Minneapolis; Fairview Hospital as Pastoral Counselor and Drug Rehab Specialist; for Wright County presenting self-esteem classes; and ministering Christian counseling though her non-profit service organization, Life Resources, in Buffalo, MN. She was also the president of Deborah Company Midwest– a Christian women’s organization which develops spiritual leaders to take on relevant tasks. They are involved in leadership training, pro-life, autism awareness and domestic abuse prevention as well as evangelism. Mark and Lucy’s adopted daughter Reese Marie is autistic and Lucy was also a member of the Autism Task Force.
Lucy is survived by her husband Mark and her daughter Reese of Buffalo, MN; her mother and step father, Eleanor and Thomas Lindsey of San Antonio, TX; her sister and brother-in-law, Cindy and Mike Jacobs of Red Oak, TX, their children Mary, and her children (Malachi, Caden, and Zion) in TX and Daniel (Jenay) of CA and their children Lily and Liam; her brother, Richard Johnson now in China; mother-in-law: Mary “Tootie” Reese of Buffalo; Mark’s sister and brother-in-law, Marylou and Joel Swedberg of Howard Lake and their children Derek (Leslie) and Luke of MN; and Mark’s younger sister and brother-in-law Marilyn and David Bullock of Buffalo and their children Lauren, Jenna and Cody (Dana).
Arrangements are by Peterson Chapel of Buffalo. Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 9:30 P.M. on Friday, July 6 at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN. There will be a time of sharing at 7:00 that evening. Further visitation will be held on Saturday morning at the church from 10-11 A.M. Funeral will be at Zion Lutheran on Saturday, July 7th at 11 AM. A luncheon will be served after the interment at nearby Swedish Mission Cemetery. Flower arrangements can be handled through Buffalo Floral.
Dear family of Lucy–
At this difficult time I trust that you will rely on the Lord for strength, comfort and peace. He is the only provider of all of that and more. Know that God is strong enough for all of you to see you through this loss, each and every day. May you also find some comfort in knowing that many of us are praying for you and rejoicing that Lucy is in her eternal home!
Love–Allison Moser
We are so sorry for you loss. May God hold your hand through your time of need.
A champion of other’s need, both physically and spiritual, Lucy heart print and foot print for JESUS will remain. In this earthly, good-bye I pray HIS presence rest on each family member.
I dearly miss you Lucy but our friendship is etched in eternity because of our Jesus. To Mark, Reese and family I extend my most sincere prayers that your time of daily goodbyes to Lucy will be precious and healing during these next few weeks. Lucy left so much richness in all our lives and we want to have those memories forever. God Bless you!
The battle of cancer is hard to over come, I know you gave it your all, so have I, now you are dancing in heaven and I will catch up later. Like a sister, a best friend, peace and love will always be part of my memories, for you and your family.
I am so sorry for your loss. May the good memories that you have help you through this difficult time. Thoughts & Prayers are with you.
May God hold all of you in His ever-protective arms, comforting and uplifting you in this hard time. I think of all of you often!
Mark you and family are in my prayers.Mark you know the relationship I had with Lucy, she was my hero, she saved my life at a time when everyone else had given up on me. I thank God for sending this chosen Angle to rescue me from darkness. I love you Lucy and I thank you. God Bless You My Dear Friend and Angle.
Our deepest sympathies. We adored Lucy. Let us know what we can do to help your family.
Dear Mark,Reese,and family,
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy for you great loss. Lucy impacted my life in marvelous ways. We met years ago at a Deborah Company meeting when we sat next to each other and found out that Reese and our grandson (whom we are raising) have the same diagnosis. Since then we have exchanged phone calls and emails about what to do and how we handled things. We have prayed for each other often. The Kingdom was truly expanded by her being here.
Praying for the Lord to strengthen you,
Linda Rivito
Mark, and family, no words. My heart feels one more chip. God Bless, what a shock, and we will see you tomorrow.
Mark, Reese and family; Our heartfelt prayers are with you at this time. Meeting Lucy changed my life and I will miss her in so many ways. My phone will be silent late at night and I will no longer hear her beautiful laugh or voice. I will be eternally thankful for her loyal friendship with me. I cannot imagine how you must be feeling but I do know that she loved you, Mark, and Reese with all of her precious heart. She was my role model in life and I pray that the healing rooms in the Mayo Clinic will yield a harvest of healing, that her death would not be in vain. I know how much her family meant to her, she spoke of them with such love. She truly was an amazing woman who will be remembered by us for her kindness, wisdom, laughter and love of Jesus. ….till we meet again, Lucy.
I am so sorry for your loss. Lucy was a kind and generous soul and I am glad to have known her and her passions.