Rita Catherine (Hake) Erickson passed away on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at Redbud Village in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 90. She was born on April 1, 1928 in Bloom Township near Tipton, Kansas to the late John and Martha (Adam) Hake. In 1949 she was united in marriage to Raymond Mayhew. They were blessed with two daughters, Linda and Donna. In August of 1964 they divorced.
Rita spent her early years around Tipton on the family farm and attended a small one-room country school. When the Depression and dust storms in the 30’s hit, her family relocated to Plainville where she attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and later Plainville High School where she completed her freshman and sophomore years. She later obtained her GED in 1973. Rita had many jobs throughout her life. She was a switchboard operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., owned and operated a dry cleaning establishment, was a nurse’s aide, Quality Control Inspector for Triangle Electronics, worked for a small animal clinic, and finished her job ventures as a K-Mart Corporation Manager which she retired from in 1990. Rita lived in many places from the plains of Kansas to the mountains of Colorado. While in Boulder, Colorado she met Melvin Erickson. They were united in marriage on June 12, 1972 in Huntsville, Alabama. Melvin’s job relocated the family to California. After his retirement they moved back to Colorado where Melvin passed away in September of 1983. In March of 1994 Rita moved back to Plainville where she lived out the remainder of her life.
Rita will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but her memory will live on in our hearts and minds. Through her life she taught us how to live our dreams, through her example she taught us how to enjoy the fruits of our labor, but above all, through her love, she taught us how to serve God and one another with undying devotion.
Rita is survived by her daughters Linda Thomas and husband Larry of Omaha, NE, and Donna Brown of Plainville, KS; 5 grandchildren Kit Nelson and husband Larry, Joyce Thomas, Jen Sanderson and husband Kevin, Jacob Brown, and Jessi Brown; and 8 great-grandchildren, Brendan, Kayli, Emmy, Blake, Carver, Miles, Callie, and Taylor.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Martha Hake; husband Melvin Erickson; brothers Edward, Arnold, Joseph, Raymond, Marvin, Lawrence, Julius, Norbert, and Richard Hake; sisters Sister Helen Hake, Geraldine Karns, Mary Lee Berland, and Edna Hake.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Burial will follow in the Plainville Cemetery. Visitation will be 2:00-8:00 P.M. on Wednesday with the family receiving friends 6:00-8:00 P.M. and a Vigil and Rosary Service at 6:00 P.M. all at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic School and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd Street, Plainville, KS 67663.