Rita Samuelson, age 81 of Sac City, IA, peacefully passed away in her home on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Rita was born on September 11, 1935, to parents Leo and Marie (Culhan) Keating. She grew up with her family on a dairy farm in Kansas. Rita graduated with the Class of 1953 in Beattie, KS.

   On August 18, 1956, Rita married the love of her life, Lowell Samuelson at St. Malachy’s Catholic Church in Beattie, KS. This union was blessed with four children: Debbie, Greg, Doug, and Cindy. Rita provided daycare in her home for 15 years, caring for a lot of children over that time. After that, she worked as the office manager at Farm Bureau in Sac City until she retired in 1996. Rita was such a kind woman who enjoyed volunteering her time to many community organizations including: Wa-Tan-Ye, Sac City Arts Council, Sac Education Foundation and Hall of Fame Board, Kids World volunteer, Election Poll volunteer, Loring Hospital Auxiliary Board and volunteer, Community Chest, Meals on Wheels, and had many roles as a parishioner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Rita was a member of the Red Hat Society and always had fun at their gatherings and events. Playing bridge was something Rita always made time for. She was also in the Birthday Club and FRACERS. Her smile and kind ways will be missed by so many!

   Above all, Rita enjoyed any and all time spent with her family. Watching her grandchildren grow, attending their events, and just spending time with them was something Rita cherished.

   Survivors include her children: Debbie Schoening of Pocahontas, IA, Greg (Brenda) Samuelson of Clarinda, IA, Doug (Carol) Samuelson of Clinton, IN, and Cindy (Scott) Crawford of Cedar Rapids, IA; foreign-exchange daughter Elisabeth Johnsen, of Ski, Norway; grandchildren: Kaitie Schoening, Connor Schoening, Christian Samuelson, Kramer Samuelson, Megan (Matt) Pelsor, Lauren Samuelson, Morgan Samuelson, Sam Crawford, Rachel Crawford, and Annie Crawford; great-grandchildren: Quintyn Hall and Finn Pelsor; brothers: Joe Keating and Mick Keating; sisters: Mary Ellen Sinclair, Ann Vogel, Jeanie Nordhus, Pat Michelletti, and Rose Marie Keating; many loved nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

   Rita is preceded in death by her husband Lowell, parents Leo and Marie Keating, and brother Louis Keating.