Grace E. (Skarhus) Rittgers

Grace E. Rittgers, age 95, of Glenwood, MN, died Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Glenwood Village Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at East Zion Lutheran Church, rural Starbuck, with Rev. Steve Carmany officiating. Visitation will be at the church, one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in East Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Grace Evelyn Skarhus was born on August 2, 1926, in Glenwood, MN. She was the fourth of five children born to parents Gilbert and Elma (Fosse) Skarhus. She grew up on the family farm three miles southeast of Glenwood. She and her family were members of Glenwood Lutheran Church, where she was baptized as an infant and confirmed in May of 1941. Grace attended Glenwood public schools and graduated with the Class of 1945. Following high school, Grace worked as an aide at the Glenwood Hospital before marrying Bruce M. Rittgers on October 19, 1946, in Glenwood. After their marriage they lived with Bruce’s parents on their farm east of Glenwood before purchasing their own farm in Rolling Forks Township, where they raised their six children.

In the spring of 1995, Grace and Bruce retired from farming and moved to a home they purchased in Glenwood. Sadly, Bruce died the next year. Grace continued to reside in their home for a few years before moving to the high-rise and then, in 2015, Glenwood Retirement Village. She passed away there on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the age of 95.

Grace enjoyed being outdoors in her garden and working in her yard. Her other hobbies included reading, sewing, embroidery, and baking amazing apple pies. When the children were young, Bruce and two other men built a large pontoon. The three families would spend their summer Sunday afternoon’s on the pontoon fishing for pan fish and then everyone would stay for an evening fish fry. Grace also taught Sunday school and was active in ladies aide at East Zion Lutheran, where they were members. Grace was also a member of the Starbuck VFW Auxiliary, the Glenwood Homemakers Club and an area Birthday Club. After the children were grown and Bruce passed away, Grace volunteered with the Senior Companion program in Glenwood, where she got to know many wonderful people.

Grace is survived by her daughter, Karin Libby of White Bear Lake and Karin’s children, Joseph Libby and Katherine (Eric) Libby Whitworth; her daughter, Brenda Lundebrek of Glenwood and Brenda’s children, Aaron, Patrick (Sarah), and Janel Lundebrek Trosvig; her daughter, Diane (Ron Boleen) Flint of White Bear Lake and Diane’s children, Lana (Ryan) Flint Larson and Andy (Marnie) Boleen; her daughter, Gwen Rittgers of Glenwood and Gwen’s children, Travis (Jessica) Disrud and Stefanie (Bill Roggenkamp) Disrud; her daughter, Loris (Dean) Rittgers Lokkesmoe of Maple Grove and Loris’ children, Ayla (Jack) Lund, Spencer (Sarah), Savanna (Jim)  Williams, and Paige; and her son, Ross Rittgers of Frazee; great grandchildren: Kasen and Joella Libby; Brayden and Tyler Whitworth; Murial and Sofie Lundebrek; Kaitlyn, Madisen and Reece Lundebrek and Ellie Moesenthin; Dex and Anders Trosvig; Cooper, Alaina and Brooks Larson; Karley (Gavin) Boleen Morse and Lindsay Boleen;  Colton and Laila Disrud, Callum Disrud-Bailey; Jimmie, Ellie, Nash and Ty Williams; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bruce M. Rittgers in 1996; her sister, Beatrice Juliot; and three brothers, Orville, Ray and Vernon; and two sons-in–law, Mark Libby and Luvern Lundebrek.

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