Barbara G. (Bange) Rietcheck passed away Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at Sheridan County Health Complex Independent Living in Hoxie, Kansas at the age of 86. Barbara was born in rural Logan County to Joseph H. and Anna Mary (Schwarz) Bange on April 28, 1933. She attended Scott Country School up to grade 8 and then transferred to the Hoxie Community High School graduating with the class of 1951. On August 25, 1956, Barbara Bange and Alfred John Rietcheck were united in marriage at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Seguin, Kansas. They celebrated sixty-three years of marriage this August. They were blessed with a family of eleven boys.
Barbara was a lifelong member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church. She was a very faithful and devoted Christian. Barbara served as the sacristan of St. Martin’s for many years lovingly taking care of the church. She worked behind the scenes making sure everything was just right. Barbara was a member of St. Ann’s Sodality and a member of the VFW Auxiliary #2864, Grinnell Wheatland Post. Barbara was an avid supporter of DSNWK. Being of assistance to special needs children was near and dear to Barbara’s heart.
Barbara was always busy. When she was in high school, she worked for the Ben Franklin Store in Hoxie, KS. After she was married, she worked as a homemaker raising eleven sons and as a bookkeeper for Rietcheck Repair. Prior to retirement, Barbara also served as a bookkeeper for the Seguin Branch of Grinnell Cooperative for eighteen years. She was rarely idle and when she went anywhere, she was on the run.
Barbara loved her family very much. She wanted her house clean and her yard perfect. She was also an excellent cook. Her favorite thing to do was work. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed baking, sewing, making many clothes for her family and gardening. She raised a large garden which fed her family throughout the winter.
Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Alfred of the home, Hoxie, Kansas; sons, Donald Rietcheck of Hoxie, Kansas, Ronald Rietcheck of Hoxie, Kansas, Gerald Rietcheck and wife Cynthia of Wichita, Kansas, David Rietcheck and wife Lori of Goodland, Kansas, Daniel Rietcheck and wife Char of Colby, Kansas, Roger Rietcheck and wife LaDonna of Hoxie, Kansas, Gregory Rietcheck and wife Kriste of Bavaria, Kansas, Terrance Rietcheck of Collyer, Kansas, Richard Rietcheck of Rochester, Washington, Andrew Rietcheck and wife Denise of Rossville, Kansas, and Brian Rietcheck of Hays, Kansas; sisters, Rosella Meitl of Oberlin, Kansas and Mildred Hill and husband Dennis of Great Bend, Kansas; brothers, Sylvester Bange of Colby, Kansas and Ed Bange of Garden City, Kansas; grandchildren, Raina, Drew, Brady, Rhonda, Kyle, Lucinda, Jayme, Trevor, Kaleen, Kayler, Lacee, Lane, Chase, Daniel, Austin, Laura, Jeremiah, Cody, Bryna, Brandon, Wesley, Sierra, Daisy, Andrea, Ashley, and Dylan; great grandchildren, Abbigail, Elliott, Kenzie, Carter, Octavia, Jackson, Jaron, Josie, Jayla, Remi, Isla, Harley, Grace, Clark, Penny; and many friends and relatives.
She was preceded in death by parents, Joseph and Anna Mary Bange; infant sister, Agnes Bange; brothers, Raymond Bange and Vincent Bange; sisters-in-law, Frances Bange and Rosemary Bange; brother-in-law, Walter Meitl; grandchildren, Dustin John Rietcheck and Kinsey Elizabeth Rietcheck; and great grandchild Kimber Marie Rietcheck.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019, 10:00 A.M. at St. Martins Catholic Church in Seguin, Kansas. Visitation will be on Friday, September 20, 2019 from 11:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. with family receiving friends from 4:30 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. with the Vigil Service at 6:00 P.M. all at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the St. Martins Catholic Church, the St. Martins Cemetery Fund or Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) and may be sent to Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Online condolences may be sent left at Mickeyleopoldfuneral.com
Barbara was a faith-filled woman of prayer who dedicated her life to unity, friendship, and charity. She taught us by example how to trust in God and care for one another. Her legacy of love, care, and devotion will remain with us forever. Barbara will be missed by those she leaves behind, but her memory will remain in the hearts of family and friends.