Rita Jo Halsey

Rita Jo Halsey, daughter of Carl and Dorothy (Anderson) Paup was born July 10, 1937, at St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. She died peacefully at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center August 8, 2024, with family beside her.
She graduated from Scranton High School and then went on to attend beauty school at Iowa School of Beauty in Des Moines, Iowa. On August 11, 1958, she married G. David Halsey at St. Mary's Church in Guthrie Center. To this union five children were born.
She enjoyed playing the organ, crocheting, feeding the birds and caring for her many beautiful flowers, especially her orchids. She had a very green thumb when it came to flowers and gardening. The Green Bay Packers was her and David's team to watch until Aaron Rogers went to another team. She was an excellent cook especially when it came to Christmas time. Her homemade candies and T-rings were enjoyed by so many as she gave them away for many years as Christmas gifts. Her pickled beets and lime green pickles were a hit at any family meal or gathering. The number of beautiful aphgans she gave as gifts for graduations, weddings, new babies, special occasions, etc. were endless. Even with five children, her home was always in pristine shape. Some of her kids now claim that she had OCD before it was a "thing/disorder."
She operated an in-home beauty shop for well over 50 years and even cut hair when she went to The New Homestead Independent Living in her early 80's.
Left to cherish the memories are her children; Tony (Sarah) Halsey, Paula Behrens, Alex (Patty) Halsey, Adam Halsey, and Merici (Russell) Sheeder and Sister, Jane (Gary Sherman) Higgs. Grandchildren. Randi (Jon) Cretsinger, Austin Hertz, Grant (Lauren) Sheeder, Becky (Ryan) Elgin, Emily (Mark Charlet) Sheeder, Katie (Cole) Fenske, Maria (Paxton) Mareno, Patrick
(Samantha) Halsey, Phillip (Allison) Halsey, Nic (Nick) Halsey. 15 Great-Grandchildren. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and great friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David in 2013, parents and parents-in-law, special friend, Andy Foster, sister-in-law, Donna Feeley and niece, Teresa Feeley, sisters Donna MacDonald and husband George, Peggy Scheffler and husbands, Francis and Cliff, Nephew, Kim Laursen, brother-in-law, Norman Higgs and son-in-law, Jeff Behrens.
Services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 17, 2024 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Guthrie Center with a visitation one hour prior in the Parish Hall.
Online condolences may be left at www.twiggfunerahome.com.