RITA MAE SCHUCH
Rita Mae Schuch age 90 of Tyndall, passed away Monday, May 12, 2025 at St. Michael’s Hospital Avera, Tyndall. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, May 21 at 10:30 a.m., at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Tabor, with Rev. Darin Schmidt officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitations will be Tuesday, May 20 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with a Wake service at 7:00 p.m. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. The Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Tabor, has been entrusted with the service details. Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome. com. To view Rita’s livestream service, visit: https://server.attend.live/ static/event/VO5nv.
Rita Mae Schuch, daughter of Anton and Alice (Sykora) Cihak, was born on November 15, 1934, in Yankton.
She grew up in Dante, where she attended grade school. Rita then went on to high school at Mount Marty High School in Yankton, and furthered her education at Southern State College in Springfield. During her teenage years, she worked at the local grocery store and cafe. For five years, Rita dedicated herself to teaching in a rural country school.
On July 15, 1957, Rita married Stanley Schuch, son of John and Lillian Schuch, at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Dante. The couple initially lived in Omaha, Nebraska, for several months before moving to Tyndall, where they farmed for over 50 years and lovingly raised five children: Arlene, Kevin, David, Renae, and Janel. Rita also worked as a customer service clerk for 14 years.
Family and her Catholic faith were central to Rita's life. She actively served her church as a choir member, organist, council member, CCD teacher, and was a dedicated member and officer of the Altar and Rosary Society.
Rita is survived by her children: Arlene and Todd Wangsness; Kevin and Tersia Schuch; David and Cindy Schuch;RenaeandJonathan Stelling; and Janel Schuch. Her cherished grandchildren are Samuel, Matthew and Rachel, Andrew and Alexandria, Alicia and Jacob, Danielle and Jon, Jeffrey and Grace, Ashley and Donnie, Faith and Greyson, Tara and Kyle, and Stefan and Marli. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Braeden, Brynlee, Harper Jo, Henley Jo, Anthony, Norah, Bennett, Hawkins, Adrian, and August, her sister Patricia, as well as one brother-in-law, John Schuch.
Rita was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Stanley; her granddaughter, Rachel; her parents, Anton and Alice Cihak; her mother- in-law and father-in-law, John and Lillian Schuch; her sister-in-law, Irene Schuch; her brothers-in-law, Stephen and James Schuch; and her brother-in-law, William Varilek.