Rita Rhodes

The loving, small but mighty, spirit of Rita Rhodes, age 93, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 26, 2024, at the Iowa River Hospice Home with her family by her side. Rita was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend to all whose lives she touched. She was born June 18, 1930, in Toddville, Iowa to James and Nellie Oliphant. Rita was the youngest of four children and grew up in Newhall, Iowa. She married Oscar (Ott) Rhodes, on July 4, 1948, and they were married for 64 years prior to his passing in 2013. They had five children together (Craig, Deanna, Jeffrey, Amy, and Andy) and lived in LeGrand, Iowa.

After raising her family, she opened her own business, Rita’s Styling Hutch, in LeGrand, Iowa and was a cosmetologist for 35 years. Her kindness, patience, and listening skills served her well in this business. Upon retirement she continued to cut hair for her family from her home for many years, including performing first haircuts for some of her great-grandchildren.

Rita enjoyed quilting, sewing, and crafts. With her daughter Deanna, she attended many craft shows selling their handmade woodworking, bears, quilts, and decorative items. They also had a wholesale business together selling their handmade clothing across the United States.

Rita loved to travel. This love started at an early age with her family vacations while growing up, bus trips and trips to Las Vegas with her husband, and in later years, multiple girl’s trips across the country with her daughters, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters. One of these trips resulted in Rita being “lost” in Alcatraz! In the last 10 years, Rita especially enjoyed glamping (fancy camping) with her daughters Amy and Deanna. They even wore matching pink robes!

Rita was very social in her retirement years as a member of the ACT Club, Music and Literacy Club, Senior Card Group, Lioness Club, Birthday Club and her special Bunco group. After moving to The Embers Retirement Community, she spent many hours playing cards and Fast Track with her neighbors.

Most of all she loved her family and friends. She instilled good values in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren that have served them well. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at the LeGrand Friends Church in LeGrand, Iowa. Public visitation will be held from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the LeGrand Friends Church, Pioneer Heritage Library in LeGrand, or Iowa River Hospice Home.

She leaves behind her children: Craig Rhodes of rural Marshalltown, Deanna (Mike) Berkey of LeGrand, Amy (Bob) Stahlin of Marshalltown, Andy Rhodes of Gilman, and daughter-in-law Diane Rhodes of LeGrand; grandchildren: Clint (Briana) Rhodes, Jason (Suzie) Berkey, Jennifer (Trent) Walkup, Brian (Annie) Berkey, Tyler (Josie) Stahlin, Zach (Courtney) Stahlin, Leah Stahlin, and Ashley Bringman; and great grandchildren: Briella Rhodes, Cohen Rhodes, Annie Wilson, Caitlyn Berkey, Carter Berkey, Sam Bachman, Gavin Walkup, Max Walkup, Boston Kendrick, Apollo Ford, Huxley Ford, Vanna Berkey, Daisy Stahlin, Frances Stahlin, Oscar Stahlin, Parker Stahlin, Layne Stahlin, Damon Bringman, and Ava Bringman.

In death, Rita joins her beloved son Jeffrey who died in 1975 at age 20, husband Oscar, mother, father, two brothers, and sister.