Rita Marie Matthews

Wake Service Date: Thursday, January 8th Time: 6:00pm

Funeral Mass Date: Friday, January 9th Time: 10:30am

Rita Marie Matthews, 93, of Wessington, passed away with her family surrounding her on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Monument Health in Rapid City.  She was actively living an enjoyable life until a stroke stopped her on December 26, 2025.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 9, 2026, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller, with Father John Short, celebrant.  Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Wessington.  A prayer service, rosary, and time of sharing will begin at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the church, with a visitation starting at 4:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, Rita held the Wessington community close to her heart. Memorials may be directed to the Wessington American Legion and Auxiliary, the Wessington Library, the Community Center, the Fire Department, or the EMTs.

Rita Marie was born September 20, 1932, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Pierre, SD, to Joseph and Elizabeth (Yackley) Naughton. She grew up in the Onida and Highmore areas. She attended North Buffalo rural school in Sully County; St. Liborius, Polo, (Hand County); and Washington Township Rural School (Hyde County). She graduated in 1950 from Mount Marty High School, Yankton, SD, and in 1953 from St. John’s School of Nursing, Huron, SD.

Marvin Matthews and Rita Naughton were married on November 16, 1953, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Highmore, SD. Following their marriage, they moved to Santa Monica, CA, where Rita worked as a Surgical Nurse at St. John’s Hospital. In 1959, they moved to Onida, SD, and farmed with Rita’s Uncle, C. H. Yackley. They purchased the Rusty Galbreath farm north of Wessington in 1961 and moved there in 1962, where they lived for fifty years. They then moved into a little house in Wessington and lived happily ever after.

Rita was active in St. Joseph Catholic Church, serving as a CCD Instructor, Lector, and Eucharistic Minister, the leader of St. Joseph’s Bible Study, and singing in the choir.  She served on the Public Library and Wessington Heritage Boards. She belonged to the Catholic Daughters, American Legion Auxiliary, Nutrition Site Council, and Community Club.  She was grateful for many friends and family who made her life so enjoyable.

She had numerous interests and hobbies.  Her favorites were playing games with the grandchildren, quilting, and puzzling.

Survivors include seven children. Jean (Dean) Hohm, William (Lynn), George (Tracy), Gary (Dionn), Mary (David) Davies, Gail (Jon) Wingert, and Jennifer (Keith) Starks; as well as 27 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and one sister, Madonna Lewis.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin, on March 10, 2022; her parents; sister, Ann Goldsmith (2016); brothers-in-law, James Lewis, James Goldsmith, and Wilburn Larson; and sisters-in-law, Gladyce Matthews Larson and Bertha Matthews.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Rita’s arrangements.