Rita Ethel Casper

Rita Ethel Casper died on May 12, 2015, in St. George, Utah, where she had lived since June of 2006.  For most of her life, she lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Rita was born on April 6, 1921, in Clark, Idaho, the fourth child of Henry Sermon and Louise Elizabeth Sermon.  She married William Earl Casper, a blond, wavy-haired drummer, in 1941.  They were the parents of three children, Ronald, Richard and Cheryl Ann. Rita was preceded in death by her parents and three older brothers, Wayne, Frank and Robert and by her husband and daughter.  She is survived by a younger sister, Jean Richins of Folsom, California, by her sons, Ronald and Richard, by seven grandchildren (Bill, Ron, Marnie, Jared, Jenni, Lori and Ben), and by twenty-nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Rita’s life was like many others of the Greatest Generation.  She worked hard in the Idaho potato fields and later worked in the potato processing industry.  If ever a song were written about her life, it would be “Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel.”  After her memory began to fade fifteen years ago, she could still recite the words to all the verses, and enthusiastically reminded herself and others that “we all have work, let no one shirk, put your shoulder to the wheel.” The family wishes to thank the staff of BeeHive Homes Memory Care facility in St. George, Utah, for their compassionate care of our beloved matriarch. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2015, at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  Arrangement made under the care of Heideman Hughes Mortuary in St. George, Utah.  Visit www.heidemanhughesmortuary.com      for complete obituary and service listings.