Rita Wheeler

Rita and I are 4th cousins through the Talbot/Wiggell lines back to South Africa. We didn't know didn't know that until my mother, Katie Hilmo, joined DUP in the 1980's. My father had a lot of respect for Rita, also. I grew up in Lakewood and married John Halvorsen whose mother, Grace Halvorsen of Steilacoom, was also friends with Rita. Grace taught at CPHS and they shared a lot intellectually. Grace thought so highly of Rita, and spoke of her often. When Grace became widowed, Rita lovingly helped her to pack and move to be close to family in UT. Rita enjoyed attending my husband's concerts, and she and I loved sharing family history stories. Because of some similar life experiences, we also shared confidences and supported each other. I will miss her for many reasons...she was intelligent, productive, easy to talk to, spiritual, and as sweet as could be. I'm comforted in her death knowing that she went confidently through the Veil because of the life she lived, and into the arms of her good parents whom she missed so dearly.

In loving memory of a wonderful person. I will love you and miss you always.

Rita was my first Relief Society President when moving to Ft.Lewis. She became a friend and colleague in the Clover Park School District, and finally my counselor in the Lakewood Stake Relief Society Presidency, and on the board of the Stake Communication Council.

We were dearest of friends and I will miss her greatly until we meet again. My love to her beautiful family.

Sharann Gilliam

What a shock to get up this morning to this posting. I loved this woman, she was my friend. Always very interesting and informative. She loved her family so much. Its been an honor to know her. Rita was the kind of person you never expected to loose. Im very sad.

my favorite memory with Rita was in 1975 when she had me parade around the newsroom as the skunk cabbage queen and handing out skunk cabbage blossoms. the newsroom guys had complained they were snubbed by the daffodil princesses. it was great and the newsroom loved it. a couple years later they wrote that their skunk cabbage queen was getting married. I still have that article in my special memories box.

Prayers for your family