Rita Marlene Gerdes

Rita Marlene Gerdes, 85, of Fort Dodge passed away Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. Funeral will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday November 23rd at Laufersweiler Funeral Home. Visitation will be on Monday from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Masks are required and social distancing. During the visitation there can only be 15 people in the funeral home. Survivors include her husband of 69 years Don of Fort Dodge, daughters Diana Gerdes, Vickie (Craig) Summers, Gina (Steve) McConathy all of Fort Dodge, sons Don Gerdes, Steve (Tina) Gerdes and Patrick (Wendy) Gerdes all of Fort Dodge, 16 grandchildren, several great grandchildren, sister Sandra Ritz of California and her brother Robert Raymond of Seattle, WA. She was preceded in death by her parents Leslie and Marcella (Ulrich) Raymond, infant daughter and son, grandson William McDermott III, sisters Delores Rogers, Shirley Kuelem and Beverly Wright. Rita Marlene Raymond was born on November 26, 1934 in Fort Dodge. She was raised and educated in Fort Dodge. On June 9, 1951 she was united in marriage to Donald R. Gerdes at Corpus Christi Church and the couple established their home in Fort Dodge. Rita worked for the Fort Dodge Public School System for 14 years. She was a member of Holy Trinity Parish. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family. Visitation Mon, Nov 23, 2020 at 9:00 am - 11:00 am Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Funeral Mon, Nov 23, 2020 at 11:00 am Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501