Rita Escher

Rita Elizabeth Escher, age 88, of Graceville, Minnesota, formerly of Dumont, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at the Grace Village in Graceville, Minnesota. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, December 29, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Fr. Stanley Wieser and Fr. Joe Vandeberg Celebrants. Organist will be Cindy Sanasack with special music provided by the Ave Maria Catholic Church Choir. Burial will be in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, rural Dumont, Minnesota. Honorary urn bearers will be Veronica Schaffer, Helen Ann Fridgen, Jean Krauth and the staff and residents at Grace Village. Visitation will be held Sunday, December 28th starting with a rosary at 5:30 p.m. followed by visitation from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and a 7:00 p.m. Time of Sharing Service at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton. Visitation will continue Monday morning one hour prior to service time at the church. Rita Elizabeth (Wieser) Escher was born on October 25, 1926 in Richland County, Fairmount, ND to Frank and Frieda (Foltz) Wieser. She received her grade one through seventh education at various country schools in North Dakota and Minnesota and finished her education at St. Peter's Catholic School in Dumont, MN. Rita was the eleventh of thirteen children and had many fond memories while growing up. Rita married Merle Escher on September 25, 1946 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Dumont, MN. Rita was a member of the St. Peter's parish in Dumont, MN and St. Patrick's parish in Collis, MN until their closure and then a member of Ave Maria parish in Wheaton, MN. She taught religious education and was a church Ladies Aid member. Her full time job was raising seven children. She loved to garden, crochet, put together jigsaw puzzles, play cards, play the organ and accordion, and keep her mind alert with word search puzzles. Rita was also very fond of dancing. She liked to bowl, was on a mixed doubles league with Merle, a women's league and always enjoyed watching it on TV when she was no longer able to participate. Rita lived on the home farm place southwest of Dumont until Merle's retirement in 1975, at which time they moved into Dumont. Rita enjoyed their home away from home on Silver Lake. She also enjoyed their many travels around the country. Rita moved from her home in Dumont to Grace Village in the spring of 2014. She enjoyed her time there and received wonderful care from the staff. The friendships she made will forever be in her heart. Rita is survived by seven children: Anthony (Sue) Escher of Mishawaka, IN; Ronald (Tami) Escher of Dumont, MN; Dwayne Escher of Garden City, MN; Mary (Patrick) Needham of Graceville, MN; Michael (Merry Jo) Escher of Sioux Falls, SD; Cheryl (Steven) Hintz of Campbellsport, WI; and Cathleen (Leslie) Skorupski of Milwaukee, WI; twenty-three grandchildren, thirty-three great-grandchildren; one brother Cyril Wieser of Trenton, IL; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family Rita was preceded in death by her husband Merle, her parents, eleven siblings and a daughter-in-law Jeri Escher. Rest in peace and blessed be the memory Rita Escher. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.
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Rosary

Ave Maria Catholic Church

• Sunday, December 28, 2014
• 05:30 PM
• Email Details
• 201 9th Street South
  Wheaton, MN 56296

Directions

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Visitation

Ave Maria Catholic Church

• Sunday, December 28, 2014
• 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
• Email Details
• 201 9th Street South
  Wheaton, MN 56296

Directions

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Funeral Service

Ave Maria Catholic Church

• Monday, December 29, 2014
• 11:00 AM
• Email Details
• 201 9th Street South
  Wheaton, MN 56296

Directions