Rita C. Kraus

MARION -  Rita Catherine (Friess) Kraus was born September 30, 1923, on a farm near St. Mark’s KS.  She was the second of ten children born to John and Gudula (Thome) Friess.  She received her education at St. Mark’s Catholic School.  After graduation, she hired out to help in the homes of area families following the births of their new babies.  Later, she worked at the Wichita Hospital prior to her marriage.  On August 3, 1943, while attending as maid of honor for her older sister’s wedding, she caught the eye of Raymond Kraus at the wedding dance; he asked her for a dance and she accepted.   That was the beginning of 64 years of dancing together.  They loved and enjoyed their dancing and were very active members of the Midwestern Polka Club including reigning as king and queen for one year.  Over the years they met and established many friendships that lasted their entire lives. Their last dance together occurred two days before her beloved Raymond passed away.  Rita and Raymond were married May 22, 1946, in St. Mark’s, KS.  They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2006.  The young married couple lived on the Kraus family farm near Wichita.  Here, 2 children, Alice and Don, were born.  In August 1951, they purchased the former Sunset Stock Farm northeast of Marion.  They remained on this land for 54 years and 4 additional children were born, Dennis, Paul, Leroy and Lori.  Rita was a great helpmate to Raymond as he managed the farming.  One of the things she enjoyed in those earlier years was creating beautiful embroidery work.  She returned to that hobby in her later years.  Rita always found joy and pride in her gardening and cooking.  She cooked many delicious meals.  She definitely had her specialties which included her pies, cakes and her wonderful baked breads including coconut twists and kolaches.  In 2005, Rita and Raymond retired from the farm and moved to Marion.  Rita was an active member of Holy Family Parish since they moved to Marion in 1951.  Her religion was always extremely important to her as evidenced by her daily prayer life.  She served her Lord in many ways but very important and enjoyable to her was serving as Chairman of the St. Mark’s Altar Society Funeral Dinner Committee for 27 years ending in 2010.    She had previously served President of the Altar Society.  Rita passed away June 25, 2015, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond in 2007, and her son, Don, in 2012.  She is survived by her sons, Dennis and Paul both of Wichita; and Leroy of Marion; her daughters:  Alice Trego of Muscatine, Iowa; and Lori Siebert of Marion; her siblings:  Gudula Gros of Andale; Florian Friess of Cheney; Justin Friess of West Des Moines, Iowa; and Urban Friess of Parsons; 14 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.