Rita Rae (Ryan) Moen, age 76, born on the 4th of July, 1941, went to heaven on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2018 with family by her side at Community Living Home Options in Monroe where she has resided for the past 10 months. Rita was the daughter of Kenneth and Eva (Weier) Ryan, and grew up in Blanchardville, except for a few years when the family lived near the Badger Ammunition Plant where her Dad worked during the war. They later returned to Blanchardville to operate the Ryan Hotel, which had been in the family for many years, and then owned and operated the Eagles Nest. Rita graduated from Blanchardville High School in 1959 and married Russell Moen on August 22, 1959. Russell and Rita resided in Blanchardville with their three sons and daughter for a number of years and then bought a small farm near Footville, WI where they lived for four years before moving to their farm outside of Blanchardville where they have resided since. Along with helping Russell on the farm, Rita worked at Zim’s Cheese in Blanchardville and then worked at Land’s End in Dodgeville until retirement. After retirement Rita was able to spend more time on her many hobbies – gardening, photography, painting, keyboarding, collecting coins, dolls, books and more. Shortly after retiring though, Rita realized she missed the friendship of co-workers, so she went back to work part-time cooking at DJ’s Bar and Grill and the Yellowstone Dairy Bar and working at Burreson’s and then Emberson’s Grocery. Rita loved to travel – she and Russell traveled all over the US and internationally. They took their grandchildren on many trips, and Rita especially enjoyed trips with her best friends Gayle and Judy, and excursions near and far with her Blanchardville friends. Rita was a homemaker and excellent cook/baker and most of all enjoyed holiday gatherings with her family and friends – so much love and laughter! What she did best was take care of her family, she was always there for anyone who needed anything.

Rita is survived by her husband, Russell of Blanchardville; four children, Jeff (Lory Hoffman) Moen of Blanchardville; Vicki (Kevin Flanagan) Ruchti of Sun Prairie; Steve (April George) Moen of Eldridge, Iowa; Bruce Moen of Dallas, TX; three brothers, Larry (Beverly) Ryan, Tim (Barb) Ryan, and Mike Ryan of Blanchardville; nine grandchildren, Kelsi, Travis, Amber, Sierra, Bridget, Cheyenne, Brandon, Dakota and Skye; four great grandchildren, Carson, Catelyn, Kali, Beckham; a brother-in-law Curtis Moen of Rockford; 2 sisters-in-law, Janet (Jim) McNeil of Monticello, Karen (Dave) Judd of Dodgeville, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister-in-law Ruth Moen.

The family would like to thank Elizabeth and her staff at Community Living Home Options for taking such good care of Rita: Jeremiah, Gabby, Beth, Melissa, Nicole, Tara, Carolyn, Anna, Amanda, and special thanks to Rene who also cared for Rita at home, and to all the residents who became her new friends.

A visitation for Rita will be held on Monday evening, February 19, 2018 from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at Blanchard Hall at 204 South Main Street in Blanchardville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday morning, February 20, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Blanchardville. Fr. Paul Eruva will officiate. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Blanchardville. The Saether Funeral Home in Blanchardville is assisting the family.

Source: Pecatonica Valley Leader, Feb 22, 2018 - page 15