Rita Wegner

Rita Wegner, 68, Bismarck, while surrounded by her loving family, went to be with the Lord on February 14, 2006, after a courageous battle with cancer. Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 17, at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kermit Culver officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 5-9 PM Thursday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Rita was born on September 10, 1937, the daughter of Leon and Mary Ann Schwehr Anderson. Rita was raised at Dazey, North Dakota. She attended and graduated from Dazey High School, and also attended Valley City State College. She worked as the controller at McCurley Chevrolet-Buick in Valley City for many years. On September 10, 1976, she married the love of her life, Marvin L. Wegner. After moving to Bismarck, she was the office manager for the Hart Insurance Agency. Later, she worked as an auditor at Ressler Chevrolet until her retirement. Rita was very active in her church, and served on various committees. She was also a very avid bowler, and taught all her children to bowl. One of Rita's proudest accomplishments was being crowned the scratch champion in the North Dakota Queens Bowling Tournament in 1972. Her highest accomplishment occurred in 1986, when she was inducted into the North Dakota Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame for superior performance. In 1988, Rita was presented the Marion Armey Award for her service to the youth bowlers of North Dakota. She was part of the delegation that was successful in bringing the National Women's Bowling Tournament to Bismarck-Mandan in 1989. That same year, the Bismarck-Mandan Women's Bowling Association inducted Rita into their Hall of Fame for superior performance. She served on both the North Dakota Youth and North Dakota Women's Bowling boards for many years, both as a director and an officer, at state and local levels. Rita and Marvin, and their beloved dog, Annie, traveled extensively in their motor home, which she enjoyed immensely. Rita always continued to be gracious, and had a smile regardless of her prognosis. Her faith and her sense of humor seemed to outweigh the challenges that came her way. She is survived by her husband, Marvin, Bismarck; one brother, Robert Anderson, Devils Lake; seven wonderful children, Vernon Karen Aus, Sanborn, Mary Durwin Berntson, Valley City, Peggy Steve Neff, Mandan, Mike Jenae Aus, Rhinelander, Wis, Sonda Phil Bender, Olathe, KS, David Sue Wegner, Bismarck, and Lisa Mike Carpenito, Hudson, NH; 17 grandchildren, Robbie Aus, Corey Nicole Neff, Mandie Jonathan Frazier, Michelle Aus, Brittany Glaser, Amy Berntson, Chad Neff, Megan Aus, Darin Berntson, Kim Davidson, Michael Aus, Steven Bender, Shane Berntson, Matthew Wegner, Timothy Wegner, Joseph Wegner, and Isabella Carpenito; one special niece, Renee Royce Nelson; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one grandson; and one nephew. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to First United Methodist Church, Bismarck.

Rita Wegner

September 10, 1937 - February 14, 2006