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Rita G. (Becker) Vornhagen

LINCOLN — Rita G. (Becker) Vornhagen, 96, Lincoln, died Monday, March 4, 2019.

Memorial services will be April 5, at 10:30 a.m., at St. William’s Catholic Church, Niobrara.

Born in St. Helena, June 3, 1922, to Marcus and Mary (Paltz) Becker. Rita was a caretaker from the time she was young. She took care of local mothers and newborns of relatives and friends. She worked at a small restaurant in Yankton, S.D. Then Rita moved to Omaha where she worked in a warehouse and bakery. About a year after that, she married Ray, on her 25th birthday, June 3, 1947, in St. Helena. They moved to Niobrara in the spring of 1948, where they farmed,

and Rita always had a huge garden. Rita was a long-time member of St. William’s Catholic Church, Niobrara, until she moved to Lincoln to be near daughter, Patti.

After years of hosting “Camp Vornhagen” to many nieces and nephews, Ray and Rita welcomed four children into their home, Regina “Jean,” Richard, James ”Jim,” and Patricia “Patti.”

Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; parents, Marcus and Mary Becker; son, Richard; brothers, Donald Becker, Wilford Becker and Florenze Becker; and sister, Mercedes Becker.

Rita is survived by her children: Patti (Scott) Beasley, Lincoln; Jim (Deanne) Vornhagen, Norfolk; and Jean Opitz, Spearfish, S.D.; her grandchildren, Patrick, Alex (Brianna) and Chris Beasley; Scott, Adam and Jay Vornhagen; Sabelle Opitz, Jamie (Troy) Winslow and Ilise Opitz; Dayleen (Mike) Eiselein and David Vornhagen; and five great-grandchildren, Arielle Opitz-Brownelle, Tehya and Mihari Winslow, Nathan and Markus Eiselein; sisters, Rose Marie (Sis) Paulsen, Emerson; Genevieve Scholte, Emerson; and Charlotte Wiebelhaus, Omaha; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

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