Mary Ritter

Mary Ritter, age 86, Moorhead, died Thursday, October 9, 2003, in Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead. Mary Hamilton was born April 25, 1917, in Harvey County, KS, to Ira and Emma (Longenecker) Hamilton. She grew up there and graduated from Newton (KS) High School in 1935. She attended and graduated from Chicago Evangelistic Institute with degrees in Sacred Literature, Kindergarten, and Missions in 1941. On June 7, 1942 she married Roland E. Ritter at East Emmet Church in rural Newton. They served Methodist congregations including Lansford, ND, Starkweather, ND, and Pembina, ND. They retired to Sebeka, MN, in 1980, and then moved to Dilworth, MN, in 1999 and Moorhead in 2000. Mary has lived at Eventide Nursing Home since 2001. A visual artist and musician, she loved reading books, flower and vegetable gardening, and enjoyed life to the fullest. She loved her children and grandchildren, and most of all she loved her husband Roland. She is survived by her husband, Roland, Moorhead; one daughter, Jodi Ritter, Evansville, MN; one son, Steven Dean (Karen Mayer), Fargo; one sister, Ruby Hamilton, Newton; two brothers, John Hamilton, Newton, and Lester (Mary Elizabeth) Hamilton, Seattle, WA; and five grandchildren, Terra Peckskamp, Syracuse, NY, Tad Peckskamp, Pensacola, FL, Tom Peckskamp, Fargo, Jennette Cate, Monterey, CA, and Bob Ritter Jr., Monterey. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Robert;, and one sister, Esther. A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in Calvary United Methodist Church, Fargo. Arrangements by Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Online guestbook at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com.