Born November 20, 1951, in Gillette, WY, Rita passed on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Casper, WY. Since the age of about ten she had lived with juvenile diabetes. She was proud of the honor of being named after her two grandmothers.
She was raised in Sturgis, South Dakota, attending St. Martin Academy through fourth grade. In 1956 her family moved to Custer, SD, when Rita was about nine years old, so she completed elementary and high school in Custer, South Dakota, graduating in 1970.
Rita was the fifth of nine Cates children: Ed, Sharon, Terry, Larry, David, Sharyl, Perry, and Loretta. When her family moved to Custer, she eventually gained a step brother, Bob, step sister, Gloria, and half sister, Barbara, for a total of twelve children.
After graduation, in August of that same year, Rita married Larry Burg, also of Custer, SD. The couple moved to Omaha, NE, for his military service in the Air Force. To this union were born two daughters, Brenda (Burg) Maloo and Christina (Burg) Brungardt. The family also lived in the Wyoming towns of Granger, Green River, Gillette, and finally, Casper.
Rita divorced her husband in 1988. She then moved to Casper to pursue a college degree in business. She also worked at various odd jobs until the diabetes made it impossible for her to continue employment.
Besides raising daughters Brenda and Christina, the very best part of her life was spent with, Mike Johnson, her partner. They loved each other for 21 years. Mike introduced Rita to black powder shoots around the state, car shows, and primitive styled camping at Rendezvous. Through him, she met and developed lasting friendships with Mike’s friends and others that she met along the way. Rita and Mike also traveled to Chama, New Mexico, family functions and reunions. One of the highlights in Rita’s life was the Palm Springs trip to California to see Mike’s uncle and visit Brenda and her family.
Rita was passionate about her family! Typical of most grandparents, she both boasted about her grandchildren and pined for more time with them. It was never enough.
Rita’s older daughter, Brenda and her husband, Cyrus, brought Marina and Nari Maloo to her family. They live in the LA area. Fortunately for Rita, second daughter, Christina and her husband, Jack, live in Casper. Their children; Christopher, Helen, and Kathy provided Rita with more grandmotherly opportunities.
Each member of her family and her faithful, loving partner, Mike, gave Rita the reasons she needed to continue her battle with diabetes. Mike provided protection, compassion and love. Her family will forever be grateful to him for his 21 years of dedication to Rita! Her diabetic prognosis was that she would not live past 40 years. But, thanks to the quality and loving support of her life with Mike, she prevailed to almost 63 years.
Rita’s hobbies included walking, baking--especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas! She was famous for her carmel rolls, peanut brittle and divinity! She loved growing flowers, collecting agate rocks, watching TV, working word puzzles and reading voraciously. She loved Meadowlarks and thoroughly enjoyed watching the birds, dogs, horses and rabbits who lived nearby, often feeding them as well. In spite of the challenges in her life, Rita embraced the joy and beauty of life.
She is preceded in death by her beloved stepfather, Bob Walker, her father, her stepbrother, and maternal, Edward and Rita Tyree; and paternal grandparents, Noble and Celestine Cates.
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