Rita J. Strathman, 94, of Seneca, KS, died on Thursday, April 16, 2015 after she was taken to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, where she died shortly after.

Rita was born September 15, 1920, on a farm south of Baileyville, the daughter of Francis and Rose Olberding Holthaus. She attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from the 8th grade in 1934. On September 15, 1938, on her 18th birthday, she married Joseph H. Strathman at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. Together they lived and farmed north of Baileyville for three years, and then in 1941, they moved to a farm southwest of Baileyville, where they farmed, raised livestock, and ran a dairy. They retired from farming in 1980 and built a new home just west of Baileyville.

Joe and Rita celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in September of 1988. They were together for 57 years, before Joe passed away on February 7th, 1996 from a pedestrian/vehicle accident. Rita moved into Country Place Senior Living, Seneca, in August of 2009. R

ita was a member of Sacred Heart Church, served on the St. Ann’s Altar Society, and was very active all of her life. Her and Joe enjoyed bowling with friends for many years, late night card games of pinochle and pitch, and traveling. She enjoyed her neighborhood club, and painting hundreds of ceramics. Rita loved to go fishing, loved gardening and flowers, crewel embroidery, and playing the organ.

Rita’s hobbies centered around her love of her family. She made numerous quilts for all of her children and grandchildren, along with a baby quilt for the grand and great-grandchildren, as well as many that were donated to the church. She thoroughly enjoyed attending the many activities and sports her grandchildren participated in.

Rita is survived by seven sons: Leo Strathman, Seneca; Larry (Judy) Strathman, Seneca; Jerry (Kathy), Gene (Carolyn), Rick (Jan) and Roger (Mary) Strathman of Baileyville; Joe (LaVerne) Strathman, Axtell; two daughters: Arlene (Leon) Holthaus, Seneca, and Sheril (Steve) Bergman, St. Benedict; Three brothers, George, Edwin and Leo Holthaus; one sister, Vivina Strathman; 46 grandchildren; 80 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great grandchildren; who will miss her very much.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Joe; three grandchildren, Sherri Strathman on March 27, 1968, Greg Strathman, July 3, 1975, and Kayla Strathman on July 14, 2013; and one sister, sister Sharon (Virginia) Holthaus.

Rosaries will be prayed on Sunday, April 19th at 2 & 7 PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday at 10:30 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Burial will be in the church cemetery.