Friday, September 18, 2026 | 11 AM
Passed away peacefully Sept 9, 2026 surrounded by her children. Born March 26, 1934 Comfrey MN to parents Vincent John and Margaret Schumacher (Fromm). Preceded in death by her parents and husband Jerry. Survived by her children Peggy (Craig Dominise) and Sean (Sue), siblings Mary Ann, Colette, Barb, Johnny and Bob, and many nieces and nephews.
Rita grew up on the farm in Comfrey, MN the second oldest of six siblings. After High School she went to Mankato State College and received her teaching diploma and Elementary Education B.S. -first teaching in Sleepy-Eye MN and then with the Foreign Teaching Service teaching military children in LaRochelle and Eitan France, and Heidelberg. She took the opportunity to travel while overseas going all around Europe plus the Holy Land, Egypt, Africa, Istanbul. She came back to the states, teaching one more year in Sleepy-Eye before taking a teaching position with St. Louis Park in 1964.
She married Gerald "Jerry" Welch in 1968 and had two children Margaret "Peggy" and Sean. She continued to teach and raise her family in St Louis Park. She became very close with Jerry's mother Rose and the entire extended family. Family was always very important to her and she enjoyed attending all family gatherings for both the Schumacher's and Welch's.
After Jerry died in 1991, she saw an add offering to work while seeing the Super Bowl and thought that sounded interesting so she signed up. This started a long second career of ushering at for the Twins, Vikings, Gopher Football and Basketball as well as the State and Orpheum theaters. Her favorite was the Twins where she became a long time usher in the press box where she worked through 2021.
She retired as a teacher in 1994 and kept very busy. She traveled and took classes through Osher Lifeflong Learning Institute, Road Scholars as well as traveling with family. Trips included China, Japan, Australia, Machu Picchu, Costa Rica to name a few. For many years she attended the Nobel Conference. She also played tennis.
She loved Minnesota sports, and grew up listening to Gopher Football on the radio doing her chores on the farm. In 1962 while teaching overseas, she thought about coming back for the Rose Bowl - but decided to stay and attend the next one. She was big fan of the Twins, Vikings and Gopher Football and Basketball. She had Gopher Basketball season tickets for years and attended many bowl games.
She was a devout Catholic attending Most Holy Trinity Church and then Our Lady of Grace. She was very active with devotions, widows group and Serra Club.
She supported numerous organizations and donated generously to many charities. She enjoyed the arts, theater, arboretum and MN Orchestra. She was a member of the St Louis Park Women's club.
She was loved by all.
Visitation is one hour prior the Funeral Mass at OLG and on Thursday, September 17, 5-7 pm at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel in St Louis Park. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to a charity of your choice that reflects her spirit of giving.
