Rita Schulte, age 74, of Lenexa, KS and Huron, SD, passed away by her beloved family on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022 at her home in Lenexa, KS after a long battle with cancer. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish with burial to follow at St. Martins Cemetery in Huron. Visitation, with her family present, will be from 4-6 PM Friday, April 22, 2022 at Welter Funeral Home in Huron; or one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Rita was born on September 11, 1947 to Lyle and Agnes Menzel in Lemmon, S.D. She was raised on a farm near Morristown, S.D., where her parents farmed and raised Hereford cows.

The daddy's girl attended Morristown Elementary School, a three-room schoolhouse, from first to eighth grade. Her devotion for reading was formed during this time and she loved spending her afternoons in the sun under the big tree in the front of the farm house with a good book.

While attending Lemmon High School, she worked on the yearbook and newspaper. But her true passion was being the head majorette of the marching band and loved spinning her baton with gusto. Rita also participated in the local Snow Queen contest, earning third runner-up. She found this quite humiliating, but did get a couple of pretty dresses out of the effort.

After graduating in 1965, she went on to Huron College - majoring in business administration with a minor in Spanish. Between her studies, she worked as a secretary in the business department.

Rita met her future husband - John P. Schulte - during sophomore year. He would park his 1965 cherry-red Chevy Impala Supersport near her dorm.  She knew her cars and she knew her guys with cars. Though John would later transfer schools, the two of them continued to date with weekend visits to Charlie's Pizza and the Riverside Club.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in May 1969, she landed her first job as the director of public information Huron College.

John and Rita were married August 22, 1969 at St. Martin's Catholic Church. The bride wore a linen mini skirt. Following the ceremony, they were joined by friends and family at John's parents' house on Seventh Street for the reception. They honeymooned in Yankton.

While the couple settled into married life, Rita focused on her career. She joined Northwestern National Bank, which would later become NorWest Bank then Wells Fargo, in 1973. She would later become one of the first female officers of the bank.

When Rita welcomed her three daughters - Jessica Jo, Julia Marie and Jaclyn Menzel - she worked hard to balance her career and being a fantastic mother. She excelled at supporting them through the many passions and difficulties of their lives. She never missed an important event or milestone, was always just a call away any time day or night.

She retired from Wells Fargo Bank as a personal loan officer in 2002, with more than 30 years of dedicated service. Named Sertoma's Woman of the Year during her professional life, her customers and her co-workers were an important aspect of her life. Her shenanigans at the bank are legendary.

Rita also loved to work in the kitchen, even though she usually left something in the fridge during the meal. Guessing what was forgotten was a game loved by her family.

Planting her garden and flowers each year was very important to her. She always enjoyed admiring their production. She started most mornings – while living in Bowe Court – walking the fence line to admire the beauty and decide her work for the day. She always giggled when neighbors caught her in her pjs.

She was passionate about being a good friend and neighbor. When she wasn't filling her home with warmth and kindness, she could be found at the Nordby Center or out to lunch with friends and colleagues.

Rita lived each day as a proud daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. She loved being called "Guppy" by her eight grandchildren - Kate and Brett Tickle, John Tyce and Lyles Hanish, and Reagan, Charlotte, Everett and Patrick Twidwell. These grandchildren were the light of her life and their images were found in hundreds of frames throughout her home.

Rita will be missed by all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lyle and Agnes Menzel, in-laws, Herbert and Roberta Schulte, brother-in-law, Ronald Bieber, and nephew, Stewart Bieber.

Rita is survived by her husband of 52 years, John P. Schulte, her sister, Lois Bieber, and her three daughters, son-in-laws and their children - Jessica and Travis Tickle, Julia and Tyson Hanish, and Jaci and Jonathan Twidwell.

The family requests that you hug your loved ones tight and that cards may be sent to 8010 Lingle Lane, Lenexa, Kan., 66215.