Rita Kruize (Jost) 3/27/1927 – 7/10/2015
Rita was born in Buckman, MN on March 7, 1927 to Nicolaus and Matilda Jost. She was a middle child of 14 kids. They soon moved to St. Cloud, MN where she grew up and attended school through the 8th grade. She married Art Kruize, from Elbow Lake, MN. Jan 12, 1946. They had three children, Darrell, Gary and Marilyn while living on their farm at Elbow Lake. Art started his trucking business around 1952 and they moved to Park Rapids, MN. In 1957 they had their fourth child, Robert. In 1959, Art got a job running a machine which picked logs off the bottom of ponds and lakes. This took them to various logging communities across ID and WA. They finally settled in Snoqualmie, WA where Art accepted a job as foreman for Weyerhaeuser. Rita worked a short time as a bartender until she injured her back and could no longer work. They retired to Port Angeles, WA from 1977 until 2000 when they moved to join sons Robert and Gary and their families in Yelm WA. Art passed away in 2003, and Rita remained in their home in Yelm, until 2012 when she moved in with Robert and his wife Kathy, in Yelm, due to medical reasons. They cared for her until her death at 88.
Rita’s strong Catholic faith helped her through her tough times, and remained strong in death. She is survived by three sisters, Reggie Lenarz, Evelyn Kiffmeyer, and Mary Jane Kope; her four children, Darrell Kruize (Wanda), Gary Kruize (Donna), Marilyn Osborne (Ron), and Robert Kruize (Kathy); and 15 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren