Rita M Knoll

June 4, 1942 - May 20, 2019

Services for Rita M Knoll were held 10:00 Saturday, June 8, 2019 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Perry. Visitation was after 1:00 p.m. Friday June 7, 2019 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry with family present from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Rev. Max Phillips of the Christ Lutheran Church in Bouton provided words of comfort. Honorary bearers were: Karrie Smothers, Cristina Hegstrom, Brooklyn Williams, Emily Williams, Zayden Smothers, Raquel Smothers, Lexi Smothers, Nason Knoll, River Knoll and Lola Banks. Casket bearers were: Bryan Hegstrom, Jason Smothers, Zacharey Smothers, Cory Knoll, Forrest Knoll and Schyler Knoll. Immediately following the service was a luncheon in the Church Hall. Interment took place at Willow Township Cemetery in Scranton. Rita Maude Knoll, daughter of Albert Wesley Palmer and Velma Grace Pierce Palmer, was born June 4, 1942 in Guthrie County, Iowa and died May 20, 2019 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 76. Rita and Ernest Irving Knoll were united in marriage on June 26, 1960 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Rural Greene County. The couple was blessed with five children: Beverly, Phillip, Connie, Keith and Annette. The family moved to Perry in the fall of 1965 where they made it their permanent home. In 1967 Rita started working at the Perry Lutheran Home as a CMA and CNA. She worked there for 40 years before retiring in 2007. Rita and Ernest owned and operated the Bait Shop on West Second Street from 1993 until 2005. She enjoyed word searches, puzzles, sewing and most of all being with her family. Rita was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Perry and the Ladies Aide. Rita was preceded in death by her parents Albert and Grace Palmer; her husband of 58 years Ernest (4/8/2018); her father-in- law William Knoll; mother-in-law Stella Pearl Knoll and her brother-in-law William Henry Knoll Jr. Rita is survived by her children: Beverly Hegstrom (Brent) of Dawson, IA; Phillip Knoll (Jean) of Otho, IA; Connie Smothers (Terry Liggett) of Perry, IA; Keith Knoll of Perry, IA and Annette Knoll of Perry, IA; eight grandchildren: Bryan Hegstrom, Cristina Hegstrom (Andrew Williams), Jason Smothers (Andria), Cory Knoll (Evelyn), Forest Knoll (Ann), Zacharey Smothers (Samantha), Karrie Smothers (Mark Ehlers) and Schyler Knoll; nine great-grandchildren: Brooklyn Williams, Emily Williams, Zayden Smothers, Raquel Smothers, Lexi Smothers, Nason Knoll, River Knoll, Lola Banks and Avigail Harris; brothers Donald Palmer of LeMars, IA and Gerald Palmer (Arlene) of Perry, IA; many cousins; other relatives and many friends. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family for future distribution.