Margaret Ritzer

1929 - 2025

Margaret Mary Ritzer (nee Costello), age 96 of Stillwater, MN, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2025. Margaret was born in Weaver, MN on June 22, 1929, to Patrick and Vera (Odell) Costello. When Margaret was in fourth grade the family moved to St. Paul. Margaret attended Harding High School and graduated Salutatorian in 1946. She attended the College of St. Catherine, where she was president of her senior class, and graduated in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in English. She then worked as a teacher and school librarian in several communities, including Mountain Iron, MN, where she experienced Iron Range culture, and Green Bay, WI, where she often saw her beloved Green Bay Packers eating lunch at the YMCA between practices. In 1957 she accepted a summer research position at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, prior to Alaska's statehood. After returning from Alaska, Margaret accepted a librarian position at Stillwater High School, losing her library in the 1957 school fire. Margaret then met James (Jim) Ritzer, an army veteran, and Stillwater native. They were married at St. Michael's Church in 1958 and started a family. In 1965, they moved to Sun Prairie, WI. Margaret attended the University of Wisconsin and acquired her Wisconsin teacher's license before returning to her profession within the Sun Prairie school district. She retired from teaching in 1991, and she and Jim moved to Menomonie, WI where they loved travelling, entertaining, and volunteering for their church and community. They returned to the St. Croix River Valley in 2020.

Margaret was an expert multi-tasker, working full time, raising a family, helping elderly neighbors, and volunteering for her parish. She taught her children the importance of faith, challenging work, sticktoitiveness, humility, frugality, and charity. She also imparted an understanding of, and appreciation for, English grammar. We will miss her kind heart, clear logic, witty sense of humor, and expansive vocabulary.

Margaret is preceded in death by husband James Ritzer, parents Patrick and Vera (Odell) Costello, and sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Clair Hermes. She is survived by daughters Mary Ritzer, St. Paul, MN, Gretchen (Brian) Meyer, Billings, MT, Rebecca (Joseph) Lowery, Hudson, WI, and Catherine (Richard) Konkol, St. Paul, MN, sons Peter (Hiep) Ritzer, Denver, CO, Mark (Janet) Ritzer, Atlanta, GA, and Thomas (Kate) Ritzer, Roseville, MN, fourteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 23, from 4-7 p.m. at the Simonet Funeral Home, 6429 Osgood Ave N, Stillwater, and one hour prior to Mass at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 24, at the Church of St. Mary, 423 5th St S, Stillwater, MN 55082. Burial will be at St. Michael's Cemetery in Bayport. Following the Funeral Mass and graveside service, a luncheon will be served at the Church of St. Mary.

Margaret's Funeral Mass will be livestreamed through The Churches of St. Michael & St. Mary YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@TheChurchesofStMichaelStMary/streams/live.

Throughout her life Margaret served others and assisted those in need. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.

www.simonetfuneralhome.com.