Le Mars, Iowa – Rita R. Niehus, 89, of Le Mars, Iowa died early Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa with her family at her side, after a brief illness. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Father Bruce Lawler will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Rita and Wally’s six sons will be pallbearers. Her grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers. A lavish lunch will be served in the parish hall following the interment. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 26, 2018 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5 –7 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at church prior to Mass on Saturday.

Rita Regina Rolfes was born January 8, 1929, on the family farm near Le Mars, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Gries) Rolfes. She grew up in the Le Mars area and graduated in 1946 from St. Joseph’s High School in Le Mars. Rita worked from 1946 to 1954 at Le Mars Mutual Insurance Association in administrative positions, and took great pride in her career and accomplishments there as a ‘career girl’. On Dec. 28, 1954, she was united in marriage to Walter Niehus at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars by the late Msgr. J. D. Fisch. Rita and Wally raised their seven kids and farmed for 37 years in the Remsen and Le Mars area. Wally and Rita sold the farm in 1993 and moved to Le Mars, where Rita lived with Wally until his death in 2004. Rita moved to Plymouth Manor Care Center in 2014.

Rita was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. She enjoyed spending time with her family, baking fruit desserts from the orchard on the farm, reading, and household cleaning and organizing. Those who knew her will recall her dry wit and humor, as well as her warm heart and compassion for those less fortunate. She appreciated the music of Lawrence Welk and Johnny Cash and loved having her grandchildren sit on her lap.

Survivors include her seven loving children, a daughter and six sons; Ken (Mary Myers Davis) Niehus of Le Mars and Ken’s children, Zach (Amanda) and their children Emma, Isaac and Noah; Elizabeth, Kaleb, Ethan, and Aaron; Tom (Angela) Niehus of Roswell, GA and his children, Justin (Chelsea) and their son Keegan and Kyle (Mellisa) and their children Brysen and Jaxon; Rose (Steve) Hanson of Sioux City and their children Christopher (Andreea), David and Paige; Gerry (Monika) Niehus of Hesperia, CA and their son Sebastien; Dan (Renee) Niehus of Castle Rock, CO and their children Tatum, Ellesyn, and Conlin; Doug Niehus of Le Mars; and Mark (Karla) Niehus of Park City UT and their children Reagan and Grayson; her sisters Lorraine (Bill) Foley of Le Mars and Sister Fidelis Rolfes of Chicago, IL; cousin Clemens Langner and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wally, and a sister and brother, Lucy Gralapp and Gunter Rolfes.