A memorial service for Rita E. Herwig will be at 1 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Dwight Netzer will officiate.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. A private family burial will take place in the spring.

Rita passed away surrounded by her family on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea. She was 86.

Rita Elizabeth (Jobst) was born on April 4, 1930, to James and Catherine (Kane) Jobst in Pontiac, Illinois. She grew up in Pontiac, where she graduated from high school. On Feb. 3, 1951, Rita was united in marriage to Richard Herwig Sr. in Pontiac. The couple was blessed with six children. The family moved to five different states while Richard was in the military and with Spurgeon’s Department Store Inc. They eventually settled in Albert Lea in 1963, where they had been residents ever since.

Rita’s life was busy with raising her six children and keeping a wonderful home. Besides that, she also worked as a clerk at Interstate Power for 16 years. Rita was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she and Richard would attend every Sunday. In her free time, Rita enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, singing and writing letters to her family and friends — never missing someone’s birthday or anniversary. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Rita was an excellent storyteller who especially loved telling stories of her family and their many childhood adventures. She was loved by all, and will be missed by all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by both parents; brothers James, John, Joe and Mike; and sisters Mary and Ann.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Richard; children Patricia (David) Jensen, Richard Jr. (Roxann Snyder) Herwig, Mark Herwig, Thomas (Jolyn Thompson) Herwig, Timothy (Kathy) Herwig and Paul (Jennifer Ilse) Herwig; grandsons Jamie Herwig (Tia

Janet) and Nathan Herwig; sister Peggy (Chuck) Studley; sister-in- law Dorothy Jobst; very good friends Mary Keating and Elaine Dimmel; as well as many loving nephews and nieces and other relatives and friends.

Memorials preferred to the food shelf at First Presbyterian Church or to the donor’s choice. Blessed be her memory.