Rita Knipfer

Funeral service for Rita Knipfer, 90, of Ekalaka, will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9 at Ekalaka Bible Church with Jon Champlin officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.

Visitation for Rita will be 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 8 at Ekalaka Bible Church with a prayer service taking placing at 7 p.m.

Rita passed away Saturday, June 25 at Dahl Memorial Healthcare in Ekalaka.

Rita M. was born July 3, 1931 in Carter County, the daughter of Harry and Elizabeth (Durm) Babb. She grew up on the family ranch near the Tie Creek area. Rita attended country school before attending high school in Ekalaka and graduating from Sheridan High School in Wyoming.

Rita returned to Ekalaka to work at the welfare office. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Ernest Knipfer and the two were married on November 8, 1949. The couple was blessed with four daughters. They made their home on the 'Mill Iron' ranch near Box Elder.

After Ernest passed away in 1998, Rita moved off the family ranch and had lived in Belle Fourche and Spearfish, South Dakota and Ekalaka. Rita loved the farm and working alongside Ernest. She was always there, helping where ever she was needed, from farming to lambing. Rita enjoyed reading, quilting and gardening and was involved with the Mill Iron Diligent Doers Homemakers Group. She was also a member of the Methodist Church in Camp Crook. Rita was a people person who truly enjoyed meeting and visiting with new friends.

Rita is survived by her daughters, Ellen (Keith) Beach, Irene (James) Hendricks, Nita (Gary) Schallenberger all of Ekalaka, Karla Turbiville of Spearfish, SD; brother, Loyal (LaVonne) Babb of Rapid City, SD; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Elizabeth Babb; husband, Ernest; grandsons, Kelcey and Klinton Hendricks; granddaughter, Becky (Beach) Coisman; great-grandson, Nicholas Schallenberger.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Fairview Cemetery of Camp Crook or a charity of your choice.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.