A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Rita Leibel, age 98, of Burke, SD, was held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke with Fr. Ron Garry officiating.
Joel Johnson was lector, and Jason Tietgen was altar server. Janet Bauld served as guestbook attendant. Music was provided by Sacred Heart Catholic Church Choir with Pat Thiry as organist.
Casket bearers were Brad Bohnet, Tim Bohnet, Nicole Juhnke, Jenn Maznio, Angie Shald, John Leibel, and Lexi Potter.
Interment was at Graceland Cemetery in Burke. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Rita was born on March 1, 1927, the last child of John and Mary “Mamie” Determan.
Mary Rita attended country school and had her sister Hilda as one of her teachers. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in O’Neill, NE, in 1945. After graduation she took a summer course to teach school and taught for one year.
On June 4, 1947, she married Paul Leibel, and to this union Mary Louise and Raymond John were born.
Mary Rita was a full-time mother and cook on the farm, where many meals and a whole lot of baking was done. She was known for her rolls, especially long johns with nuts. All of her grandchildren loved them.
In 1989, Paul and Mary Rita moved to town. She began working at the Sacred Heart Church and the thrift center at this time. She retired from her church duties in 2014 and continued to work at the thrift store until moving to Silver Threads in May of 2019.
Mary Rita enjoyed Silver Threads, participating in all of the activities they offered. She loved to play cards and would play solitaire for hours. Mary Rita was a life-time member of the VFW Auxiliary.
Mary Rita died December 22, 2025, at Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, SD, at the age of 98 years.
She is survived by her daughter Mary Lou (Tom); grandchildren Brad (Becky) of Yankton, SD, Tim (Mary) of Laurel, MT, Nicole (Jason) of Parkston, SD, Jenn (Dan) of Huron, SD, Angie (Neil) of Stuart, NE, John of Burke, SD, and Lexi (Cole) of Howard, SD; 14 great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Mary Rita was preceded in death by her husband Paul; son Ray; her parents; Paul’s parents; siblings Ben, Bertha Putnam, Clarence, Florence Karrels, Hilda Raymond, Irene, Leo, and Ray; and all of Paul’s siblings.
