January 14, 1941 – Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Service Information
Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church Greenf
July 2, 2011
11:00 a.m.
Visitation Information
Rita Beise, 70
Rita Beise, loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 28, 2011 at the age of 70.
Rita was born January 14, 1941 in Monticello, grew up on a dairy farm in Greenfield and lived there her whole life with her loving husband, Duane. She graduated from Buffalo High School in 1958, won the prestigious Betty Crocker Award and started working for General Mills until she married in 1960. Rita was very well known for her cooking and baking abilities: especially her peanut squares, caramel pecan bars and famous “ kuchens”. She was a lifelong member of the Salem Lutheran Ladies Aid. Rita loved being outside working in the fields, gardening, and canning her home grown vegetables.
Rita’s life was exemplified by her faith and her family. She was a role model as a strong Christian and her pride and joy came through spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by parents, Walter and Lillian Harff, and sisters, Dorothy (Richard) Gutknecht, and Caroline Bechtold.
She is survived by: her loving husband of over 50 years, Duane; son, Doug (Deb) Beise (Greenfield); daughter, Barb (Jaime) Sherwood (Greenfield); son, David (Laura) Beise (Chanhassen); grandchildren, Ashley Beise, Ben Beise, Mason Beise, Maya Beise, and Megan Sherwood; sisters Marlys (Howard) Schleif, Kathleen (Ronald) Tiemann, and Renata (Jack) Russek; brother-in-law, Willmar Bechtold; sisters-in-law, Mayella Yonak, Arvella Veches, and Judy Beise; brothers-in-law, Dennis (Janet) Beise, and Kenneth (Sharon) Beise; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who loved her dearly.
Visitation from 3-8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. prayer service) on Friday, July 1, and the funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 2 with visitation one hour prior. All services are at her lifelong home church of Salem Evangelical Lutheran, Greenfield, Minn. where she was baptized, confirmed and married, and now will lay to rest.
Casket bearers are: Tim Bechtold, Terry Schleif, Ken Schleif, Daryl Schleif, Mark Tiemann, Steve Gutknecht, Doug Stewart, and Marvin Marketon.
The Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home will service the family.
My heart is sad and the world is a little dimmer without Rita. Yet I know her suffering is over and she is at rest in a beautiful place where she is no doubt tending a garden and baking for all the souls surrounding her now. God bless!
To Katie and extended family; I want to extend my deepest sympathy for your loss. May the Lord comfort you in this difficult time.
Becky and I are out of town and heard of sad news. We are all going to miss that smile.
We as christians can rejoice also knowing Rita is with our Savior in heaven.
Our prayers are with you all.
Dave and Becky Klatt
Dear Duane and Family;
Sorry to hear of your loss. You are all in my prayers and may the Lord give you strength during this difficult time.
I will always have the most loving and wonderful thoughts of Rita. She was a very spaecial lady.
God Bless you all.
Karl Hohenstein
P.S.I had planned on being there for the funeral services, however, I sustained a bad injury on Friday.
RITA WAS MY CLASSMATE AND I SO ENJOYED KNOWING HER. I ALWAYS ENJOYED SEEING HER PRETTY, DIMPLED SMILE AT CLASS REUNIONS. MY CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY. WHAT A TREASURE SHE WAS.