Rita Wehking

The Mass of Christian Burial for Rita Wehking of Eagle Bend will be celebrated at 11:00a.m. on Wednesday February 26, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Clarissa. Visitation will be Tuesday, from 4:00 until 8:00p.m. at the church in Clarissa with a rosary at 5:00 and prayers at 7:30p.m. Visitation will resume at the church on Wednesday from 9:30a.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery, Eagle Bend, MN. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You are invited to watch the service via live-stream by going to Schuller Family Funeral Homes' FaceBook Page or YouTube Page ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With family at her side, Rita passed away at the age of 86 at her home in Eagle Bend on February 20, 2025, with additional gentle care by Vivie (aka: Knute Nelson) Hospice. Rita Mae Stich was born the daughter of Jacob and Dorothy (Gerszewski) Stich on November 15, 1938, in Stephen, MN. She attended Stephen Elementary School and graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Crookston. Following graduation she attended Thief River Falls Vocational School to take a secretarial course. Rita found employment at Northwestern National Life Insurance Co in Minneapolis. There she met Verne Burke, and they were married May 1959, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Stephen. Four children were born of this marriage, Therese, Michael, Patrick and Timothy. Verne passed away March 26, 1964. In 1969, Rita and her children moved to St. Cloud where she attended St Cloud State graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. She accepted a second-grade teaching position at St. Anastasia Catholic School in Hutchinson. Rita met Carl Wehking at the Lake Marion Ballroom, and they were married on November 24, 1973, in Hutchinson. The spring of 1974, they moved to a farm north of Rose City. Jennifer and Jason were born of this marriage. Rita helped on the farm. She taught Title I in Parkers Prairie and Eagle Valley along with fifth grade in Eagle Valley. She spent several years as a substitute in the area schools. Faith, family and friends were very important to Rita. She was a member of and served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Clarissa. She also was a member of St. Mary’s Mission. Rita was a talented cake baker and decorator for many occasions and baked cookies for Treasured Treats at the Hill Top Kitchen. Getting together with family was important, especially with her grandchildren. They all received a denim quilt when they graduated and embroidered dish towels as a bridal shower gift. She enjoyed being a member of the Eagle Bend Kitchen Klatter Band, Eagle Bend Red Hat Mamas, dancing and playing cards. Rita and Carl took many bus trips to Alaska, Nova Scotia, Canada, Arizona and the West. Preceding Rita in death were her parents; first husband; an infant son; brother, Adolph Stich; an infant sister; parents-in-law, Ernest and Lillian (Buehler) Wehking; daughter-in-law, Lisa Wehking; and sister-in-law Karen Stich. Surviving Rita are her loving husband, Carl; children: Terry (Jim) Langmaack, Mike (Lori) Burke, Pat, (Laurie) Burke, Tim (LeAnn) Burke, Jen (Ryan) Glebe, and Jason Wehking; 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great grandchildren; siblings: Ron (Marge) Stich, Jerry (Karen) Stich; sister-in-law Yvonne Stich; along with several cousins, nephews and nieces.

Rita Wehking

November 15, 1938 - February 20, 2025