Rita (Andrews) Gwyther, 80, of Bismarck ND, passed away on May 6, 2023 at CHI St. Alexius hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, May 15, at 1:45 p.m. at Sprit of Life Catholic Church. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.
Family will be receiving friends from 2-3 p.m. Sunday at the Bismarck Funeral Home with a Rosary/Vigil service at 3:00. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Rita Andrews was born in Dickinson ND October 11 th , 1942, to John and Frances (Zastopul) Andrews. She was a graduate of Mandan High school. She married Rodney Gwyther on December 1 st , 1962, and together had 5 children Julie, Robert, Connie, James and Kristen and were married for 60 years!
Mom/Rita worked as a LPN Nurse. In 1992 she went back to School at the University of Mary and received her BSN Graduating at the top of her class. She was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Serority. Mom/Rita worked on the mom/baby unit at St Alexius in Bismarck for many years.
Mom/Rita loved to play cards especially bridge. She loved to read, swim, crafts, scrap booking, Christmas, giving and wrapping gifts, calligraphy, and travel (she did not get to go to all the places she wanted but will go. She will go in spirit, with her children, grandchildren, great and great great grandchildren as they travel.) She loved to have her hair brushed, family gatherings, Red Roses, Coke, Carmel rolls, Cabbage rolls, and Soup (especially tomato and borscht.)
Mom/Rita was an only child.
She will be deeply missed by her husband of 60 years Rodney Gwyther, her 5 children, Julie Schoonover, Robert (Janet) Gwyther, Connie Eberle, James Gwyther and Kristen L. Nelson, 15 grandchildren, Derek (Natisha) Ben (Ashley) Cory (Kristi) Jordan, Josh (Lacey) Waylon, Kayla (Tony) Austin (Hanna) Isaac, Lynsey, James, Brandon, Devinee, Sam and Harley, 17 great grandchildren, Lili, Dallas, Kenadee, Witten, Wyatt, Morgan, Phoenix, Cambria, Geri, Taner, Malakai, Dominick, Quistis, Mazikeen, Leeloo, Emmerson and Irie, sister-in-law, Patty Husband (Richard) Martinson, nieces and nephews, Mary Jo, Randy, Shelly, Richard and Patty. She will also be missed by her cat Sara.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Frances Andrews, brother and sister-in-law Mervin and Peggy Gwyther.
A livestream will be available on the Spirt of Life website, http://www.myspiritoflife.com/