Drilling, Rita Mae (Tupy) 1928 - 2024

DRILLING, TUPY, HOVORKA, PARKS, HARRIS, REICKS, KUENNEN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/14/2024 at 14:24:11

CRESCO - Rita Mae (Tupy) Drilling of Sandstone, MN passed away peacefully on Monday, February 26, 2024 in her home at Serenity Courts surrounded by her loving family. She was 95 years old.
Rita was born March 22, 1928, at her farm home near Spillville, Iowa, to Edward and Clara (Hovorka) Tupy. She grew up in the Czech farming communities of Spillville and Protivin, going to school in Spillville, a local country school, and Cresco High School. She graduated in May, 1946, then went to the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa for one year. Rita worked at various office jobs while writing letters to her future husband in the military.
Rita married Eugene A Drilling on Sept 19, 1950, in Spillville, Iowa. They lived in Cresco where they had 5 children. In 1965, Gene and Rita moved to Sandstone, MN to own and operate a Coast-to-Coast Hardware Store, their career dream. In 1976, Gene and Rita had their home in the country built with gardens, and a greenhouse, another dream fulfilled. In August of 1988, they retired from the store and did gardening and traveling.
Rita’s interests were her family, gardening, baking, and traveling. She was part of the AFS club, Friendship Force Group, Garden Club, and Catholic Church.
Rita is survived by her sons, Charles (Cheri) Drilling of Sandstone, MN, Gary (Jill) Drilling of Babbitt, MN, Bea (wife of son, Joseph) Drilling of Sandstone, MN, daughters Doris (David) Parks of Owatonna, Mn, and Jane (John) Harris of Sandstone, MN. Rita has 12 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren, and one great great grandson.
Rita is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Clara Tupy, husband Eugene Drilling, son Joseph Drilling, grandson Brian Drilling, sister Ruth Reicks and husband, sister Irma Kuennen and husband.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2024, at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Sandstone, MN with Father Joseph Sirba officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Methven Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Burial will take place at Spring Park Cemetery following the service.
Arrangements by Methven Funeral and Cremation Services of Sandstone, MN. www.methvenfuneralhome.com

Source: Cresco Times Apr. 12, 2024