Rita Marie Colver

Rita Marie Colver, 69, died July 9, 2011, at her home in Wasilla, surrounded by her loved ones and the flowers that she enjoyed so much.

A visitation for family and friends is from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday at Valley Funeral Home, 151 E. Herning Ave., Wasilla. A funeral service is at 2 p.m., Thursday at Manna Baptist Church Palmer. Burial will follow the services at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.

She was born Aug. 23, 1941, in Palmer. Rita was raised on a farm near the Butte. Rita married Warren Colver in 1970 and raised their children, Brad and Candace, in Anchorage. After Warren died in 1999, Rita moved back to the Valley and started a gift store with her sister, Norma. In 2003, the sisters retired to devote their attention to their grandchildren and gardens.

Rita will be remembered for her feisty spirit and her quick helping hands. Her grandchildren will cherish the special times spent with their grandma. They loved doing projects together and Rita was extremely proud of Ariel and Kyle.

Surviving are her sisters, Norma Marshall, Ruth Bailey, Janice Swartzbacker and Pauline Standifer; son, Brad Colver; daughter, Candace Hasse; son-in-law, Scott Hasse; and grandchildren, Ariel and Kyle Hasse.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Warren Colver; parents, Paul and Margaret Nelson; and sister, Sylvia Wolf.

She loved her entire family dearly, thinking of them always and forever. Her love was equaled only by the love her family returned to her.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla cared for the family.