In Memory of Associate Rita Plathe

December 27, 1925 – January 7, 2025

Associate Rita Plathe, 99 of Algona, Iowa, passed away on January 7, 2025. She was born December 27, 1925, the youngest of five children to John and Annie Thul of Bode, Iowa. Rita attended St. Joe Elementary School and graduated from St. Joe High School in 1943. In 1946, she married Milford Plathe of Irvington. After his death in 1968, Rita remained on their farm raising their five children throughout their college, while she continued to farm 500 acres of corn and soybeans, and even feed 30-some cats at her backdoor every night.

Rita was a devout Catholic: she attended daily Mass, prayed the rosary daily, and began the rosary group at Van Buren in Algona. She played the church organ and sang in the choir and belonged to the Catholic Daughters of America. When she moved to Algona, she lived across from St. Cecelia Catholic Church and served as secretary at Seton Elementary School for eighteen years. She became an Associate of the Presentations on October 9, 2003.

Rita loved to travel and did so extensively throughout the United States, Israel, and Europe. She also was an avid gardener; her beautiful flowers kept the altars at St. Joseph’s church adorned in glory. She was an avid card player and did not go lenient, even when the opponents were her children! Rita delighted in her role as grandmother to her 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Her Christmas cookies, banana nut bread and meatballs were the best.

Rita’s memory and love will be forever in the hearts of all who knew her.