Rita A. Stange

The memorial service for Rita Ann Stange, 81, of Buffalo, MN, will be 11:00am, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, with Pastor Alton Vilhauer officiating. Burial will follow at Groton Union Cemetery in Groton, SD. Rita passed away peacefully with family at her side on Wednesday, February 18, at Cura Nursing Home in Monticello, MN.

Visitation will be 9:30-10:45am, before the service, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street.

Rita Ann Stange was born Sept 10th ,1944, in Britton, SD to Marvin and Mary (Hostetter) Kimball, the family lived in Oaks, ND, Cutbank, MT, Granby, MO, and Columbia, SD. After Rita's father died in 1952, her mother married Harold McCormick in August of 1956 and the family moved to the farm in Columbia where Rita grew up and graduated from Columbia high school. She was baptized and attended and frequently sang at the Congregational church. She played clarinet, was a high school cheerleader, enjoyed debate team and acting in school plays. She was crowned Miss Columbia 1962.

Rita married Dennis Stange on Nov 4th ,1962. They lived in Fargo, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Sioux Falls. She moved back to Minnesota in 2023 where she passed away. Rita had four children, seven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. She was very active in the order of the Eastern Star. She was a past Matron and past Grand Martha. She drove school bus for 19 years, she was a master quilt maker, and loved knitting, crocheting, and sewing.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband Dennis, son Brandon, grandson Jacob, granddaughter Devyn, her parents Marvin Kimball and Mary and Harold McCormick, her sister Lana Cuzzort and brother Gary Kimball, her brother-in-law Leland Stange, and sister- in-law Marilyn Stange

She is survived by her children Terry Stange (Sonja Wilkinson), Jerry (Janelle) Stange and Brenda Hall, her grandchildren Cole Stange (Thomas Thaler), Ashlyn Wilkinson, Justus (Raeanna) Hall, Colton Hall, Samantha (Nick) Brooks, Emily Stange (Nick Reis), great grand-children Tony and Rylan Lujan, Layla Koll, and Norman Hall, her sister Judy (Wilbur) Albrecht, in-laws Nancy Stange , Gary and Myrna Stange, Verlin Stange, and many nieces and nephews.

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