Francis M. Ritter

May 3, 1925--Jan. 5, 2011

OBERLIN, Kansas -- Francis M. Ritter, 85, formerly of Dresden, Kansas, died Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2011), at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin.

He was born May 3, 1925, in rural Leoville, Kansas, to Bernard and Philomenia (Kruse) Ritter. He was raised on a farm near Leoville and graduated from Leoville High School in 1943.

He was a member of the U.S. Army.

On Aug. 21, 1951, he married Pauline Dempewolf in Leoville. The couple lived in Dresden where he was a farmer and dairyman.

He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus in Leoville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Philomenia; wife, Pauline; and siblings, Cletus, Raymond, Seraphim, and Dennis Ritter.

He is survived by his sons, David Ritter of St. Francis, Kansas, John E. Ritter of Dresden, Donald Ritter of Dresden, James and wife, Connie Ritter of Colby, Kansas, and Gerald and wife, Phyllis Ritter of Shawnee, Kansas; daughters, Ann and husband, Bob Middleton of Goodland, Kansas, Mary Ritter and husband, Ford Wiltrout of Norton, Kansas, and Susan McKenna of Eugene, Oregon; brothers, Sylvester and wife, Margaret Ritter of Dresden, and Victor Ritter of Jennings; sisters, Sister Delores Ritter of California, Florence Thompson of Hoxie, Kansas, Bernadine and husband, Don Spesser of Leoville, and Alfreda Colling of McCook, Nebraska; sisters-in-law, Wilma Ritter of Selden, Kansas, Bernadine Ritter of Russell, Kansas, and Alberta Ritter of Oberlin; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are Saturday, 11 a.m., at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Leoville with the Rev. Mark Berland officiating. Interment is in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Leoville.

Vigil services are Friday, 7 p.m., at the church in Leoville.

Visitation is Friday 5-8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. until the service, at the church.

Memorials may be made in his name.

Pauls Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.