Dorothy Mae Ritta

March 4, 1923 - December 31, 2020

Dorothy Mae (Stone) Ritta, 97, of Central City died on Thursday, December 31, 2020, at her home on the family farm in rural Central City. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 2 p.m. at Community Bible Church in Central City with Rev. Dale Janzen officiating. Burial will be held at the Central City Cemetery following the funeral. Visitation will be on Monday, January 4, from 6-8 p.m. at the church. The family would like to remind anyone who wishes to attend the visitation or service that masks are required. The service will be live streamed on the Solt-Wagner Funeral Home facebook page. Memorials are suggested to Community Bible Church, Nebraska Christian Schools, or Lincoln Christian School. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Dorothy Mae was born on March 4, 1923, to Frank and Florence (Jeffery) Stone in Area, Illinois. Dorothy grew up in that area, and graduated from Libertyville High School in 1941. On March 20, 1943, she was united in marriage to Ralph Lewis Ritta in Ivanhoe, Illinois. Following their marriage they lived in Grayslake, Illinois, until 1961 when they moved their family to Central City. They purchased a farm in rural Central City, where she helped Ralph and raised their family. Dorothy remained on the farm until her passing. She was an avid gardener and collected salt and pepper shakers, mugs, farm caps, and thimbles. She sent encouragement cards weekly to friends and acquaintances. She was a very caring and loving wife, mother, and friend, and she was a devout Christian. Her faith was very important to her and was passed on to her children. She was a member of the Community Bible Church in Central City, an Awana leader for over 30 years, a Vacation Bible School worker, and she attended and led neighborhood Bible study groups for 18 years. For many years she was the Ladies Auxiliary Work Chairman for Nebraska Christian Schools, where she worked tirelessly painting and cleaning in the summers. Those left to cherish her memory are her children James Ritta of Grand Island, Robert (Susan) Ritta of Central City, Edward (Marilynn) Ritta of Marquette, Michael (Kathy) Ritta of Chapman, Eddra Ritta of Hickman, and Thomas (Jody) Ritta of Central City; 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; nephew Don and nieces Barb and Nancy and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph, her daughter Elizabeth Conn and son-in-law Larry Conn, brother Ted Stone, brother-in-law and sister-in-law David and Marion Ritta.