Rita Keckler
Age - 80
December 7, 2023
Rita Charlotte Raines Keckler, age 80, of Sioux Falls, SD died on November 30, 2023, surrounded by her family. Rita was born February 18, 1943, to Robert and Roberta (Nommensen) Raines in Clark, SD. She went to school in Raymond, SD and Lead, SD. She graduated from Northern State University (then Northern State Teachers College) with a bachelor of science degree in education in 1965. Rita met Jim Keckler at Northern State College in the summer of 1966. They were married in Sioux Falls at Christ the King Church on August 16, 1967. Rita worked in education before and after her time as a homemaker focused on raising her children. She began her career teaching math at Patrick Henry Junior High School. Rita later worked in the library at Eugene Field Elementary School and at Patrick Henry Junior High School. During the final chapter of her career, she worked for 13 years as the school secretary at Longfellow Elementary School, where she made many dear friends. Rita was active in many groups and activities in Sioux Falls. She was a member of PEO Chapter BY for 39 years. She was a leader in fund-raising to support the mission of the organization for many years. Rita was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church for 43 years. She also enjoyed her involvement with her book club and investment club. Rita was a talented and prolific quilter, seamstress, and needleworker. She was a founding and active member of the Sioux Falls Quilters Guild. She participated in several small groups, including her Tuesday night quilt group, embroidery group, and art quilt group. She enjoyed traveling with friends to many quilt shows and events. Rita was especially proud of her 13 years of service with the Prayers and Squares group at Avera Hospital. She rarely missed gathering with the Friday morning group to work on quilts for cancer patients and she received recognition for 1,000 hours of volunteer service. Rita's family is fortunate to have the many beautiful quilts that she made to remember her and be wrapped in her love. Rita's time living in Lead, SD was very important to her. Her father worked at the Homestake Gold Mine and Rita was proud to have been a gold miner's daughter. She worked as a summer tour guide at Homestake during her college years. Rita said that her mother's front porch in the beautiful Black Hills in Lead was one of her favorite places in the world. Grateful for having shared Rita's life are her daughters Marcy Keckler (Tom Fabbro), Minneapolis, MN, and Lisa Keckler (Geoff Courtney), San Antonio, TX; her sons Scott Keckler (Jennifer Johnson), Sioux Falls, SD; and Jeremy (Jolene) Keckler, Sioux Falls, SD; her 11 grandchildren: Julia and Frank Fabbro; Elizabeth, Kathryn, Robert and Margaret Courtney; Adrian, Gabriel, and Nathanuel Keckler; and Collin and Seth Keckler; her sister Roma Raines Bell and brother-in-law David Bell, Perth, Australia, and her many nieces and nephews. Rita was preceded in death by her husband James Keckler and her parents Robert and Roberta Raines. Rita's family is grateful for her caring circle of friends who visited and supported her during the final months of her life, especially her friends who completed quilting projects for her. They are also thankful to Dr. Keely Hack of Sanford Oncology and the exceptional team at Sanford Hospice for the compassionate care Rita received. The family requests that memorials in Rita's honor be given to Feeding South Dakota, The Banquet, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, or a charity of your choice. A visitation with family present will be held at Heritage Funeral Home in Sioux Falls on Wednesday, December 13,2023, from 4:00 p. m. to 6:00 p. m. A funeral Mass to celebrate Rita's life will be on Thursday, December 14,2023, at 11:00 a. m. at the Church of St. Mary in Sioux Falls, followed by a luncheon. A private family burial will take place at St. Michael's cemetery at a later time.Show more
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