Rita Marie Fleming

1928 - 2015

Rita Marie Fleming

August 28, 1928 -
October 4, 2015

Rita M. Fleming, 87, of Stevensville, MT passed away on Sunday, October 4th, 2015 at home surrounded by family. Rita was born on August 28, 1928 in Elma, Iowa as the sixth of John and Anna McGee's nine children.

She graduated from Assumption High School in Cresco, Iowa in 1947 where she was on the girls' basketball team. She and a friend moved to the Pacific Northwest, and Rita attended nursing school, becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse in Seattle, Washington in 1956.

Rita married Robert Fleming at St. Alice's Catholic Church in 1957, and they made their home in Springfield, Oregon. They were married for 43 years until Bob's death in 2000, and raised three children (Bruce, Monica, and John). They were delighted to have four grandbabies to dote on as well (Josh, Kristine, Trey and Emma).

Rita worked as a nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, and, later as a cook at Thurston High School. During the summer, she painted for the school district and picked beans. She wouldn't stop for the day until she got her 200 pounds of beans picked!

In 2006, Rita moved to Stevensville, MT to live with her daughter, Monica, and family. There, she attended St. Mary's Catholic Church. She made friends everywhere she went and became an adopted mom/grandma to many. When her son, John, remarried, she was happy to welcome three more grandchildren and two great-grandchildren into her life. With the marriage of her granddaughter, Kristine to Aaron Bennett in 2014, she joyfully gained another grandson.

Rita enjoyed playing cards and dice with friends and family. She loved watching "The Dream Team" play basketball during the Olympics, and was a devoted Notre Dame Football fan. She went back to Iowa often for the McGee-O'Neill Family Reunions, and loved spending time with her sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews. She was not, however, a fan of Midwest thunderstorms and tornadoes!

Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Fleming, her parents, John and Anna McGee, and all eight of her siblings (Don, Ray, Ed, Gerald, and Jack McGee; Cecelia Delaney, Marcella Mirci, and Marjorie Wetherell). She is survived by her sons, Bruce Fleming and John (Judy) Fleming, and her daughter, Monica (Jim) Keeney; her grandchildren, Josh Keeney, Kristine (Aaron) Bennett, Trey Fleming, Emma Fleming, Brad (Kodie) Dorman, and Mandy Dorman, her great-grandchildren, Braedon and Calloway Dorman, her brother-in-law, Kelly Mirci, sisters-in-law, Agnes and Mary McGee, and many loving nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, October 15 from 10AM to 4 PM at Springfield Memorial Funeral Home. A Rosary will be said at 10:30 am and a Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 am at St. Alice's Catholic Church in Springfield on Friday, October 16, 2015.

Arrangements entrusted to Springfield Memorial Funeral Home. Please access the obituary, and you are invited to sign the guestbook at www.musgroves.com.