Irma Charlotte (Johanson) RITCHIE

RITCHIE, JOHANSON, CARLSON, CANTRALL, CHADWICK, HAMILTON, SCHMITZ

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/30/2009 at 07:08:53

May 30, 2009
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

ALBERT CITY - Irma C. Ritchie, age 98, of Albert City, Iowa died on Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at the Pleasant View Home in Albert City. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 30, 2009, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Albert City. Burial will be in the Poland Township Cemetery at Albert City. The Sliefert Funeral Home of Albert City is in charge of arrangements.

Irma Charlotte Johanson, the daughter of Martin and Minnie (Carlson) Johanson, was born in St. Charles, Illinois, on October 11, 1910. At an early age, Irma moved with her parents to a farm near Marathon, Iowa, in 1915. Irma was baptized as an infant into the Christian faith at the Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Illinois and later confirmed at the Grace Lutheran Church in Marathon. She lived her youth and received her education in Marathon, graduating from the Marathon High School in 1928. Irma continued her education at Iowa State Teachers College (currently recognized as the University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for two years and received her teaching certificate. She was a teacher at Galt, Iowa [Wright County], for one year and then she taught in Albert City for three years. On June 2, 1934, Irma was united in marriage to Donald Ritchie at Grace Lutheran Church in Marathon. This couple was blessed with three children: Mary Ann, Bruce, and Harlan. Following their marriage, they moved to a farm west of Albert City where they resided for 30 years. Irma had a desire to continue her education and attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. For several years she attended night school and summer school and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts Degree. Irma returned to teaching and taught at Truesdale, Iowa, in 1961. In 1964, the Ritchie's moved to Algona where Don worked for the Department of Social Services and Irma continued her teaching career in Britt for two years and later at the Algona Bryant Elementary School for ten years. Both Don and Irma retired in 1975 and moved to their home in Albert City. Don died on February 9, 1999.

Irma was an active member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Albert City and participated in many activities within the church. She was also a member of the Albert City Historical Society, "Young at Heart" Senior Citizens, the Thresherman's Association, and a canasta card club. In earlier years, she had belonged to the Community Club, the Homecraft Club, West Friendly Circle Club, and the Delta Kappa Gamma in Algona, Iowa. She enjoyed reading, traveling, playing cards, working puzzles and being with friends. Irma's family was a very important part of her life and cherished the times she could spend with them and watch her children and grandchildren grow and develop and follow their various activities.

Irma is lovingly remembered by her family: her daughter and son-in-law: Mary Ann and Charles Cantrall of West Bend, Iowa, her two sons and their wives: Bruce and Katherine Ritchie of Waukee, Iowa, and Dr. Harlan and Dr. Leah Ritchie of Okemos, Michigan, her eleven grandchildren: Curtis Cantrall, Cheryl Chadwick, Cristin Hamilton, Dr. Craig Cantrall, Chad Cantrall, Cory Cantrall, William Ritchie, Donald Ritchie, Christopher Ritchie, Robert Ritchie and Aryn Schmitz, 18 great grandchildren, along with other relatives and her many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Donald, her brother and sister-in-law: Harry and Marge Johanson, and two daughters-in-law: Lou Ellyn Ritchie and Nancy Ritchie.

Blessed be the memory of Irma Charlotte Ritchie.