Rita Jean (Smith) Friesen was born on June 21, 1954, in Dodge City, Kansas, to Duane and Geneva (Smith) Smith. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 23, 2026, at age 72.
Rita had a happy childhood, growing up with one sister and four brothers. She and her family lived in several places in Kansas, including Cimarron, Greensburg, South Hutchinson, and Sedgwick. She attended Valley Pride School in South Hutchinson and graduated from Sedgwick High School. Although they moved to different communities, Rita had a pleasant personality and easily made new friends wherever they lived. Responding to God’s loving call, she gave her heart to Him and was baptized on April 13, 1969, by Minister Abe Toews at Zion Church, Inman, Kansas.
Rita found the love of her life when she met Kenneth Friesen from Inman, Kansas, and they married on September 9, 1977, in Halstead, Kansas, with Minister Kenneth Smith officiating. Mom and Dad lived near Inman, Kansas, for nineteen years, where we four children were born. They farmed and raised cattle and hogs.
In the spring of 1996, we moved to Moscow, Kansas, near the Ulysses community. On July 15, 1997, Gwen, the oldest child, had a catastrophic vehicle accident and was left a quadriplegic. Mom and her “babe,” Ken, bravely cared for her for twenty-three years. We cannot thank Mom enough for those years of loving sacrifice. Maybe she has already received a “well done” from the One who gave her strength for that journey. In 2020, Gwen moved to a care home. Because of the COVID-19 lockdown, Mom couldn’t visit her, so she started working part-time at the home, which made her an essential worker and allowed her to be with Gwen. The rest of us could only visit Gwen outside her window via cell phones.
Mom was a loving and fun mother. She loved flowers, reading, grocery shopping, buying us Christmas presents, and collecting Beanie Babies. She also loved thrifting with her best friend, Anne Schmidt. Dad was a volunteer firefighter for forty years, and Mom always supported him, often baking cakes and cookies for their firefighter Christmases and other events. Nearly every year, she bought Dad a small toy fire truck for Christmas.
Mom loved her friends and family, and she always welcomed visitors. She had a special bond with her grandchildren, and when she called, she asked about them before us. She also enjoyed going to church, especially Sunday School. Even after she was almost too weak to go anywhere, she would sometimes say, “Let’s at least go to Sunday School!”
About two years ago, Mom was diagnosed with cancer. Her health steadily declined, and she often had to be admitted to the hospital. Several times, we didn’t expect her to live, but she always seemed to rally. Through it all, Dad stayed by her side, caring for her nearly 24/7. Thank you, Dad. In the end, maybe by Divine appointment, only Dad was with her as God swept her up in His arms to be with Him. Dad took her hand on September 9, 1977, and never let go until God asked for her hand on October 23.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Ken, and her children, Gwen, Montezuma, KS; Jeffrey and Polly, Basin, WY; Rebecca and Kelly Koehn, Moscow, KS; and Travis and Whitney, Greybull, WY; brothers, Ron and Rosemary Smith, Wichita, KS; Terry and Jana Smith, Sedgwick, KS; Loren and Georgia Smith, Fayetteville, AR; Eric and Tracie Smith, Billings, OK; brother-in-law Ron Nickel, Ponca City, OK; grandchildren, Jori and Johnathan Copp, Maci, Cooper, Ashton, Parker, Dominic, Oakley, Ryker, Malia, Bay, Maverick, and Jett, also numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death are her parents and parents-in-law, a sister, Carolee Nickel, one brother-in-law, and two sisters-in-law.
Funeral Services will be held at Grant Mennonite Church in Ulysses, Kansas onTuesday, October 27, 2026, at 10:30 AM with Minister Stuart Jantzen, Minister Bruce Dirks and Minister Karlan Koehn officiating. Interment will follow at the Grant Mennonite Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to Rita Friesen Memorial Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.
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