Louise Ritter

Funeral services for Louise Ritter age 88 of Selby will be at 10:30 AM, Thursday, June 2, 2016 at the UCC Church in Selby. Burial will be in the Mound City Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be Wednesday at the church from 5-7 PM. Louise passed away, Friday, May 27, 2016 at the Clark Golden Living Center.

Louise (Rische) Ritter was born at the Herreid hospital on August 14, 1927, to Melvin and Elfrieda (Becker) Rische. She was the second of nine children. The family moved several times before her parents bought a farm. Louise attended several county grade schools and graduated from Glenham High School in 1945. She began nursing training in the fall of 1945 at Presentation College in Aberdeen and graduated in July of 1948.

On August 29, 1948, Louise married the love of her life, Marvin Ritter in Herreid. They made their home on a farm in rural Mound City where they were dairy farmers for forty years. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary two months before Marvin passed in 2008. After they retired they moved to Selby in 1988. After moving to Selby they spent time traveling to see family and friends. They also helped at the Selby Nutrition Site and joined Germans from Russia. Louise was named Mound City Woman Farm Wife of the Week in 1969 and also Walworth County Cook of the Week in 1989. In her spare time she enjoyed painting, refinishing furniture including reupholstering work, crocheting, sewing for herself and family and quilting. She quilted many quilts for her family. She was secretary of the Woman's Missionary Society, Farmerettes extension club, and PTA. She was also a Sunday School Teacher and sang in the choir. She learned how to play guitar, accordion, and piano. Louise always had a large garden and loved to cook and bake. Her family was very important to her and she was always interested in what her grandkids and great grandkids were doing. She loved her family but her Lord Christ was even more important to her.

After Marvin's passing and Louise's declining health, she decided to move to Roetells Senior Housing in Clark, SD, to be closer to family. She enjoyed the residents and not having the responsibility of keeping up a home. She also enjoyed having her children nearby. She was named Clark's Sr. Snow Queen in 2013.

Louise is survived by her seven children, Daryl (Sharron Melinda) Ritter of Picayune, MS, Avis Smith of Arlington, TX, Merlyn (Marie) Ritter of Clark, SD, David (Jacky) Ritter of Brookings, SD, Mark (Kathy) Ritter of Aurora, SD, Arlyn (Alicia) Ritter of Elk Point, SD, and Loren (Jackie) Ritter of Aberdeen, 21 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, sisters, Darlene Stotz- Liebelt, Elaine Cheskey, Margie Volk, brothers, Dennis Rische and Marlyn Rische and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Marvin, sisters, Betty Kiess, LaVonne Williams, and Bertha Liebelt, son-in-law, Albert Smith, eight brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law.

At the family's request in lieu of flowers monetary donations will be directed towards the Parkinson Association.