Rita Marie Holthaus, 90, of Seneca, KS, died on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at Life Care Center in Seneca, where she had been a resident since 2005.

She was born on December 12, 1918 on the Reinecke family homestead east of Baileyville, the daughter of John J. and Rose Hohe Reinecke. She attended Sacred Heart School in Baileyville. She worked at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Kansas City, KS as a dietary assistant, before returning to Baileyville to take care of her father.

On October 1, 1941 she married George Holthaus at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. They lived on a farm southeast of Baileyville until 1942 when they moved to a farm northeast of Seneca, where they farmed for 16 years. In 1959, George and Rita moved 1-1/2 miles west of Baileyville where they established their farmstead. There they farmed and raised cattle and hogs, until they retired in 1983 and built their current home in Seneca. George and Rita celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries.

Rita was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society in Seneca. She was a former member and officer of the Sacred Heart Church’s Altar Society in Baileyville. Rita had a very strong faith which she passed on to her children. Her greatest joy was the time she spent with her husband, children, and grandchildren—she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed embroidering, cooking, baking, making comforters and playing cards. Rita always had an open door for family and friends.

Rita and George were the parents of 10 children of which two died during infancy. She will be missed by George, her husband of 67 years, of the home; her children, Harlan and his wife Georgina Holthaus of Baileyville, Galen and his wife Sharon Holthaus of Marysville, Rosalee and her husband Bob Stimac of Seneca, Elaine and her husband Bill O’Connor of Kansas City, MO, Betty and her husband Richard Sudbeck of Seneca, Nick and his wife Jeanne Holthaus of Baileyville, Nancy and her husband Don Sudbeck of Seneca, and Joanie and her husband Arlyn Holthaus of Seneca; her sisters, Helen Stallbaumer and Rose Ann Nordhus, both of Seneca, and Sr. Theophane Reinecke O.S.B. of Atchison; 38 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son Dennis in 1944 and a daughter Mary Ann in 1948; her brothers Frank J. Reinecke on December 15, 2002 and Clarence “Mike” Reinecke on April 26, 2007; her twin sister Clara M. Sextro on July 1, 2000; and her son-in-law LeRoy “Roy” Dalinghaus on December 28, 2002.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Sunday, February 22, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Monday, February 23, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Church Cemetery in Baileyville.

Memorials may be given in Rita’s memory for Catholic Charities or the Sts. Peter & Paul Building Fund, and sent in care of the family.