Rita Seeger, 1914-2014

Published 9:19 am Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Funeral services for Rita A. Seeger will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle. The Rev. Cheryl Szabo will officiate. Interment will be at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Rita Seeger

Rita died Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, at Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Rita A. Seeger was born Sept. 18, 1914, in Mower County to Lewis and Emma (Pell) Machacek. She attended country school in Mower County. She worked for her room and board for two years with the Otto Baulder family and later at a boarding house with other girls from country families while attending Austin High School, graduating in 1932.  Rita also graduated from a one-year teacher training course, Normal School, in Austin in 1933. She continued her education through extension courses from Mankato and Winona State College during her years of teaching in several rural school districts in Freeborn County.

Rita was united in marriage to Leonard R. Seeger on Sept. 1, 1937, at Lutheran Parsonage in Northwood. Leonard died on July 14, 1998. Her last 22 years teaching were at the Lyle Elementary School. She retired in 1977 after completing 41 years of enjoyable teaching. Rita was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and was active in her circle. In 2001 she moved to Maple Court in Northwood and enjoyed friends and activities there. Rita enjoyed visiting with friends and relatives and reading.

Survivors include her daughter, Carol (Kenneth) Willmert; grandchildren Leslie (Justin) Donato and Brian (Hanna) Willmert; great-grandchildren Alexander and Violette Willmert; sister, Ora Yaroshek; special cousin/caregiver, Lola Fritsch; and many nieces and nephews.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard; brothers Glenn, Ray, Lee, Loy, Walter, Irving and Fred Machacek; and sisters Ida Jilek, Florence Machacek and Leah Rigler.

Memorials are preferred to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or a charity of donor’s choice.