Rita Petree, 87

Rita Petree, 87, of Montgomery died Thursday, May 20, 2010, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Born in Kilkenny on April 12, 1923, Rita was a daughter of Edward and Eda (Kuntz) Schwartz. She attended country school, and after graduating from Montgomery High School, attended teacher's training in Le Center. She taught country school until marrying Lehman Petree on June 6, 1945, at the Holy Redeemer Parish House in Montgomery. Rita worked at the Montgomery Creamery as bookkeeper. She was a member of the Montgomery Area Community Club, and loved her family, reading, knitting, crocheting and her dog, Buttons.

She is survived by her husband; children Renee Southworth, Montgomery and Gary Petree, Montgomery; a sister Marcella Thorsen, Montgomery; four granddaughters Claire Crosby-Meadows, Angie Petree, Chelsea Petree and Sabrina Southworth; and great-granddaughter Dakota Dean Meadows.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister Lucille Dietz.

Funeral services were held at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery on Monday, May 24, at 1 p.m.

Burial was at Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery. Pallbearers were Claire Crosby-Meadows, Dustin Meadows, Angie Petree, Adam Feddick, Chelsea Petree, Matt Schwer, Sabrina Southworth and Joe Wilcox. Honorary pallbearer was Dakota Dean Meadows.

Visitation was held at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m.