Rita Regina Holthaus Becker, 84, of Kansas City, MO, died Saturday morning March 1, 2008 at North Kansas City Hospital.

She was born April 26, 1923 on a farm south of Seneca, KS to Ferdinand & Regina Holthaus. She was the youngest of nine brothers and sisters. She is survived by her older brother, Francis Holthaus of Seneca, KS. She graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in 1941 and after graduation worked at Harsh’s Drugstore.

In 1943 she married Leonard “Woody” Becker, also from Seneca, in Sioux Falls, SD. They lived in Sioux Falls while Leonard was stationed there during WWII. After he was discharged, they moved back to Seneca, where they owned the Log Cabin Cafe with her sister Lucia Holthaus Roth. In 1948, the couple moved to Kansas City, MO where Rita became a “full-time mom” raising their five children, Bill, Brenda, Pam, Nancy and Bob. After the death of her husband in 1983, two of her daughters, Brenda and Pam, moved in with her to keep her company, and they continued to live with her until the end.

Rita enjoyed gambling, going to the boat, and playing cards, such as pitch and poker, with friends and family. She loved watching her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids’ sporting events. Known fondly as “Granny”, she loved to brag on them all, and was so proud of every one of them that she glowed in their presence.

She liked watching KU basketball and remained a true Kansas Jayhawk fan even though she lived in Missouri. She loved tending to and admiring beautiful flowers. Rita was always ready to go, if anyone was going out, she was the first one to grab her purse to get out the door. She was a meticulous housekeeper and a phenomenal cook; her specialties, were fried chicken and apple pie. She was fond of cooking Sunday dinners to gather the entire family.

Survivors include her children, Bill Becker, Brenda Grego, Pam Becker, Nancy Calvert & husband Chuck, Bob Becker & wife Stacey; her brother, Francis Holthaus, eight grandchildren, & seven great grandchildren.

Visitation and rosary will be held at McGilley Antioch Funeral Home on 3325 NE Vivian Road in Kansas City, MO on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, with visitation starting at 6 pm and the rosary at 7:30 pm. Rita will lie in state at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca after 8 am Wednesday morning.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 am Wednesday, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. She will be buried next to her husband in the Sts. Peter & Paul Church cemetery. Lauer Funeral Home is in charge of Seneca services.