Rita Leona Rott

February 14, 1929 - July 16, 2019

Rita Leona Rott, 90, of McPherson, Kansas, passed away at 12:06 a.m., Tuesday, July 16th, 2019 while in the company of family members, at McPherson Hospital. Rita was born at her parents farm in Clay County, Kansas on February 14, 1929, a daughter of Leona (Charbonneau) and Eddie Chaput. Rita attended her first years of schooling in one-room schoolhouses in Cloud County. She graduated from the eighth grade from St. Anne's Catholic School in Clyde, Kansas and from Clyde High School in 1947. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church McPherson, Kansas, where she served as a member of the Altar Society. Through the years Rita worked for others doing housework, worked for LaBarge Drug Store in Clyde, Kansas, Geary County Treasurer's Office, J.C. Penney's in Concordia as a clerk, and as a receptionist and voucher clerk for Fairmont Foods in Concordia. Later in life after her children were in school, Rita worked for the County Clerk's Office in LaCrosse, and after moving to McPherson worked for J.C. Penney's as a clerk and saleswoman. Rita enjoyed growing and caring for flowers. Though she experienced many medical hardships in her life, she always retained a cheerful attitude, and could always find something to laugh about. You could always count on an honest answer if asked for an opinion or advice on any subject. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed family gatherings - always cooking too much food, so everyone could take their favorite dishes home as leftovers. Rita L. Chaput was united in marriage to Donald E. Rott on November 26, 1953 at Clyde, Kansas. Donald died on June 2, 1995. She is survived by her children: David Rott and wife Debora, of McPherson, Kansas, Donna McNally and husband Gary, of McPherson, Kansas, Debra Campbell and husband Steven, of McPherson, Kansas, and Rebecca Basgall and husband Stan, of Hays, Kansas; her sisters, Geraldine Bushell, of Clay Center, Kansas and Joyce Bergstrom and husband Gene, of Pocatello, Idaho; her 6 grandchildren, Sharon Rott, Andrew Rott, Paul Rott, Ryan McNally and wife Lindsay, Jessica McNally, and Amanda Pfannenstiel and husband Keith; her 4 great-grandchildren, Noah Pfannenstiel, Benjamin Pfannenstiel, Theodore Pfannenstiel, and Barnabas McNally; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; brothers, Edward, Lloyd, Bernard, Virgil, Donald, and Dennis Chaput; and by her sisters, Gloria Pearson, Rosella Edmonds, and Pearl Woellhof. Visitation and Rosary will be on Thursday, July 18, 2019 from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM with Rosary at 7:00 PM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, McPherson, KS, at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 19th, 2019 with Fr. Ben Shockey officiating. Final resting place McPherson Cemetery, McPherson, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Catholic Church and they can be sent in care of the Glidden - Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460.