Frances Ritterling

Frances Esther Ritterling was born on Dec. 16, 1930, in York, Neb., the daughter of Henry C. and Emelie (Albright) Schardt. Frances was baptized, and later confirmed, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Frie- densau, Nebraska. She attended Friedensau North Grade school, and later, Deshler High School, graduating in May, 1949.Following high school, Frances worked for banks in Fairbury, and then Lincoln, before she returned home to Thayer County. On Nov. 28, 1954, Frances was united in marriage to Lawrence Ludwig Ritterling at the Trinity Lutheran Church, by Pastor H.P. Miller. To this union of 56 years, five children were born: Randy, Curtis, Marcia, Lyle and Lynette.

Frances and Lawrence farmed together in the Byron area for 43 years. They moved into Byron in 1994. Frances then went to work at Chester-Hubbell-Byron Schools. Frances was a member of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church, rural Byron, and was active in various church groups, including the quilting guild. She also enjoyed a good game of pitch with family and friends.

Frances lived near or in Byron for most of her life, only recently moving to Parkview in Deshler.

Frances died Sept. 7, at the age of 90 years, 8 months, and 22 days.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lawrence in 2011; sisters, Irma Ohlrich and her husband, Lawrence, Lorine Ruprecht and her husband, Reuben, Emily Siebenneicher and her husband, Wayne, Valora Wurtz and her husband, Herman, Mildred Holtzen and her husband, Elmer; brothers, Edgar and his wife, Vera, Paul and his wife, Grace, and Leonard and his wife, Alice; brothers-in-law, Delmar Eickman, Norman Ritterling, Orville Ritterling and his wife Elaine; and son-in-law, Peter Mimmo.

She is survived by her children, Randy Ritterling of Kearney, Curtis Ritterling of Evansville, Ind., Marcia Steblay and her husband. Nick. of Ramsey, Minn., Lyle Ritterling and his wife. Brenda, of Byron, and Lynette Ritterling of Belleville; grandchildren, Jason Ritterling, Sara Ritterling Patry and her husband, Clint, Elliott Ritterling, Ethan Ritterling, Abby Ritterling, Laura Steblay, Megan Steblay; and by her great-grandchildren Sawyer Ritterling and Cody Patry;

her twin sister, Florence Eickmann, brothers-in-law, Marvin Ritterling and his wife, Tobe, Verland Ritterling and his wife, Mary; and sister-in-law, Myrna Ritterling; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation was from 1 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 12, with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m., at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville.

Her funeral was Monday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m., at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, near Byron. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Memorials are requested to the Byron Public Library, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home of Belleville assisted the Ritterling family with these arrangements.