Rita Marie Bertke, age 87, of Maria Stein, died Monday, December 23, 2019 at Briarwood Village.

She was born October 11, 1932 in Egypt, to the late Henry & Elizabeth (Hoying) Dahlinghaus. She married Omer Bertke on November 11, 1953, and he survives in Coldwater.

She is also survived by eight children, Steven & Dianne Bertke of New Bremen, Kathleen & Harold Bruns of Versailles, Mary Jo & Marvin Koester of Celina, Denise & Lawrence Kunk of Yorkshire, Patrick & Claudia Bertke of Mays Landing, New Jersey, Gerelyn & Raymond Moeller of Mendon, Gerard Bertke of New Bremen and Gregory & Anita Bertke of New Bremen; 19 grandchildren; 1 step grandchild; 37 great-grandchildren; siblings and in-laws, Velma & Carl Spangler of St. Henry, Betty & Melvin Bruggeman of Anna, David & Pat Dahlinghaus of Maria Stein, Marcia Dahlinghaus of Arizona; and in-laws, Marlene Dahlinghaus of Maria Stein, Jovita Osterloh of St. Henry, Urban Bertke of New Bremen, Sr. Martha Bertke of Coldwater and Betty Bertke of Maria Stein.

She was preceded in death by a brother Jim Dahlinghaus and in-laws, Lewis & Rita Bertke, Stanley Bertke, Othmar Osterloh and Dorothy Bertke.

She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Maria Stein, ladies sodality of the church, Knights of St. John Auxiliary, Maria Stein Legion Auxiliary, church bereavement committee, Communion distributor, Mercer County Right to Life and many card clubs. She worked as a housekeeper at the Maria Stein Shrine.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, December 30, 2019 at St. John Church. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Minster from 1 to 6 PM on Sunday, December 29th, and from 9 to 10 AM on Monday.

Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.