Rita M. Burdiek, 80, of Centralia, KS, died Wednesday evening, April 18, 2007, at Eastridge Nursing Home in Centralia due to complications of congestive heart failure.

Rita was born on March 22, 1927 on a farm southwest of Baileyville to Fred J. and Clara Lierz Broxterman. She attended Star Country School and then the Baileyville School until 8th grade. Rita helped on the family farm doing various chores in addition to helping area mothers with their newborns.

Rita married Walter J. Burdiek on February 5, 1948 at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. Initially the couple lived in Lillis, then after two years moved south of Centralia, where they spent the next 32 years farming and raising their ten children. In 1982, they moved to Centralia.

Rita worked for Bauman Catering Services. Then in 1976, she went to work for Country View Estates (now Life Care Center) in the kitchen, and retired from there in 2000.

Rita was a volunteer with the Election Board, and was a member of St. Patrick’s Church and St. Patrick’s Alter Society in Corning. She enjoyed volunteering at area nursing homes, crocheting, sewing, quilting, playing cards, and gardening. She especially loved keeping up with her grandchildren and watching them play sports.

Survivors are her husband Walter of the home; six sons, Tim, Alan, and Larry, all of Centralia, Roger of Circleville, Mark of Silver Lake, and Dennis “Butch” of Valley Falls; four daughters, Linda Martin of Topeka, Sharon Lueger of Seneca, Marlene Rempe of Corning, and Janet Lueger of St. Marys; three brothers, Gilbert and Cletus Broxterman, both of Baileyville, and Daniel Broxterman of Centralia; two sisters, Evelyn Burdiek and Maxine Strathman, both of Seneca; 28 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Rita was preceded in death by her brother Galen on September 21, 1971; her sisters, Maleta Gress on November 25, 1984, Mildred Haug on June 2, 2001, and Mary Ann Holthaus on May 6, 2005, and a grandchild Brent Burdick on July 10, 1983.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 AM Saturday, April 21, at St. Patrick’s Church in Corning. Burial will be at the St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Friday, April 20, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorial contributions can be made for St. Patrick’s Cemetery, or Eastridge Nursing Home, and or Abundant Life Hospice, and may be sent in care of the family.