Rita J. Floersch, 89, of Seneca, Kansas, died Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

She was born December 5, 1923 to Frank and Anna Catherine Engelken Wietharn on a farm near Baileyville. She graduated in 1941 from Baileyville High School.

Rita married Raymond E. Floersch on November 11, 1947 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. The couple farmed two miles east of Baileyville until 1963. In July of 1965, they bought Farrells Grocery Store on Main Street in Seneca. In 1967, they built a new grocery store, where it stands today, called the Seneca IGA and later Ray’s IGA, and currently called Ray’s Apple Market. Besides the Seneca location, there are now seven other locations of Ray’s Apple Market around northeast Kansas and southeast Nebraska, all owned and operated by Rita and Ray’s children. In the fall of 1977 Rita and Ray couple built a new home and moved to Seneca. They celebrated 36 years of marriage before Ray’s death on September 8, 1984.

Rita was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society, and a volunteer for the Hospital Guild and the Mission Center, all in Seneca. She had resided at Country Place Senior Living in Seneca since July 2007.

Rita had a strong faith in God, and believed in strong family values.

Her hobbies were painting and playing cards.

She is survived by four sons, Tom and wife Linda Floersch of Manhattan, Kansas, Mike and wife Nelda Floersch of Clay Center, Kansas, Jerry Floersch and Jeff Longhofer of Highland Park, New Jersey, and Rob and wife Diane Floersch of Clay Center, Kansas; a daughter, Kathy and husband Jerry Strathman of Baileyville; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband Raymond, she was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Aloysius Wietharn, Marie Heiman, Edwin Wietharn, Fr. Albert Wietharn, Helen Buser, Francis Wietharn, Fr. Sylvester Wietharn and Clarence Wietharn.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Wednesday, February 6, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Thursday, February 7, at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. Burial will be in Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Rita’s memory for Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, and sent in care of the family.