Betty Ritter

Betty J. Ritter, 84, passed away at 5:55 a.m., Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at Jerseyville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center after a period of declining health.Betty was born in rural Jersey County on March 6, 1933, one of five daughters born to John and Sophia (Ontis) Skinner.She graduated in 1951 from Jersey Community High School, and nearly six months later married the love of her life, Robert Joseph Ritter on Dec. 1, 1951.Bob soon entered the service, and Betty accompanied him wherever he was sent, with the exception of a brief stint overseas.   Upon his honorable discharge, the returned to their hometown of Jerseyville, and soon began a family that would consist of four strong, independent daughters.In addition to being an amazing wife and mother, Betty also held various jobs throughout her lifetime as she assisted in the office of the law firm as well as East Elementary, and worked for many years as a teller at the Jersey Savings and Loan, all of which were in Jerseyville.Betty was of the Catholic faith, and was a member of the Holy Ghost Catholic Church, and always found time for a good card game.  In fact, every Thursday afternoon you could find her at Westlake, and of course her daily five o'clock martini that she shared with her husband every day.  She and Bob were blessed with a loving family and a wonderful life together, and after nearly 58 years of marriage, he passed away on Sept. 8, 2009.She is survived by her four daughters and two sons in law, Pamela Huff and Patricia Ritter both of Jerseyville, Penny and Joseph Iantria and Polly and John Rutter all of Naperville; four grandchildren who were the apple of her eye, and provided her with much joy and pride, BreannaRutter, and her companion, Halen Clark of Morgantown, Ky., BrocRutter of Naperville, Jaclyn Iantria of Los Angeles, Ca., and Nicholas Iantria a student at the University of Kansas; a beautiful great granddaughter, Lilly Clark; and a very special and devoted friend, Sharon Shanks of Jerseyville.In addition to her parents, and her husband, she was preceded in death by a son in law, Ronald Huff; and her four sisters, Thelma Watts, Doris Harvey, Mary Scholeman, and BernieceTonsor.Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where a prayer service will be conducted at 4:30 p.m.A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father Patrick Gibbons officiating.She will be laid to rest at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery in Jerseyville.In sincere appreciation to the kindness they showed to Betty, memorials may be given to the Jerseyville Public Library or Catholic Charities.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home