Rita Margaret Scott

Rita Margaret Scott was born Sept. 30, 1940, to Garland Fred Scott and Hazel Grace Horr (née Scott) in Lemmon, South Dakota.

The family moved to Rhinelander, Wis., in 1952. Rita graduated from Rhinelander Union High School. She enjoyed being a Hodag and attending her class reunions. Rita cherished her lifelong friends from those days.

Rita was married to Norman Deede and they had two sons, Scott Norman (1957) and Mitchell Allen (1960). They later divorced but remained friends.

Rita later married Donald Bacher and had Patrick lvan (1967) and Erich John (1969). After 20 years they also divorced.

Rita worked for Wisconsin Bell starting as a long-distance operator on a cord board. She retired after 32 years working as a cable splicer. She started a second career working for Mosinee Telephone Company. She enjoyed her job there and made new friends. She retired after 28 years at the age 80.

After retiring, Rita’s health became a big concern and she sold her home in Stevens Point and lived with her son Patrick and his husband, Rich, in Wausau. Rita later moved to Mountain Terrace assisted living as her care needs increased.

Rita enjoyed genealogy, jigsaw puzzles, spending time with her family, friends, and grandsons EJ and Christian. Rita loved her family, and she adored her five wonderful pet dachshunds she had over the years: Gretchen, Alex, Stretch, Columbo and Charlie. She also loved her granddogs Roxie and Oliver. She especially enjoyed her time with her niece Julie Hanson Van Cleve who went out of her way to visit her. Rita enjoyed spending time with her friend Linda Louze who made sure she was out shopping and going to lunch.

Rita is survived by her sons Scott, Patrick (Richard Louze) and Erich (Carley Pavelka Bacher). She is also survived by her brother Riley Fred Scott (Dianne Bohnne), grandchildren Jessica Foesch, Jason Bacher, Adam Bacher, Erich John Jr. (EJ) and Christian Bacher, great grandson Henry James Foesch, and five nieces Julie, Cindy, Lisa, Michelle, and Rebecca, and three nephews John, Todd, and Brian.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Merton and Goldie Scott and Riley and Florence Horr, parents Scottie and Hazel, Uncle Donald Hord, sister Sheila Ann Hanson and brother-in-law Everette Hanson, former husband Donald Bacher and her beloved son Mitchell Allen in 2012. Rita was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, Shuda Funeral Home and Pastor Steve Hulke of St. Paul’s will be assisting the family with services.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Shuda Funeral Chapel, 3200 Stanley St., Stevens Point. Friends and family are invited to gather and share memories at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be at a later date at Northland Memorial Park in Rhinelander.