Cleo Ann Ritter

Cleo Ann Ritter, age 86 of Park Rapids, MN, peacefully passed from this life into eternal life on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at the St. Joseph’s Area Hospital in Park Rapids with her loved ones at her side. Cleo was born on December 9, 1929 in Manning, Iowa to Peter and Laura (Rowedder) Kasperbauer. As a small girl she moved with her family to Huron, South Dakota where she attended public school, graduating from the Huron Public High School with the Class of 1947. On March 12, 1949, Cleo’s life was made complete in her marriage to James Thomas Ritter. They were blessed with three children: Debby, Mike and Steve. Cleo devoted her life to making a warm and loving home for her husband and children. She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious home cooked meals. Since Tom worked for the Otis Elevator Company they made their home in several cities of the upper Midwest before settling in Sioux City, Iowa. In addition to caring for her family, Cleo also worked as a secretary for the Sears Credit Company and with the Plumbers Union, both in Sioux City, Iowa. Cleo and Tom fulfilled their dream of building a log home on Fifth Crow Wing in 1988 where together they have made their home ever since. Cleo loved to snowmobile with her husband and enjoyed playing cards, bowling, quilting and growing flowers. Above all, she loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with all her heart. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband and soulmate for these past 66 years, Tom of Nevis; her daughter, Debby (Steven) Spencer of South Sioux City, NB; her two sons: Michael (Dee) Ritter of Hastings, MN and Steven (Nancy) Ritter of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; six grandchildren: Michael (Stephanie) Mohr of Sargent Bluffs, Iowa, April (Shawn) McArthur of Lawton, IA, Matthew Ritter of Hastings, MN. Andrew Ritter of Chicago, IL Abigail Ritter of Iowa City, IA and Christopher Ritter of Portland, Oregon; two great grandchildren: Derek and Raegan Mohr and a niece, Janet Sykes. Cleo was preceded in death by her parents; a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law and a nephew. A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, January 30, 2016 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service. Gary Stennes will be playing the piano and soloist will be Carol Rice, who will be singing “Amazing Grace”. Special recorded music will be “I Can Only Imagine”. Urn bearers will be Shirley Tobias, Ann Carroll, Susan Haley, Julie Devine, Eunice Rothermel, Verna Griffith, Arlene Novak and Sandy Drury. Honorary urn bearers will be the Nifty Nine Quilt Group.