Rita Lanae Gibbs

Rita L. Gibbs, age 68 of St. Peter, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

Memorial service will be 11:00am Friday, March 14, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Peter. Visitation will begin at 9:30am. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, New Sweden. To leave a condolence for the family, visit www.saintpeterfuneralhome.com.

Rita Lanae Gibbs was born on October 31, 1956 to Mae (Johnson) and Arnold Johnson. Rita grew up on a dairy farm and was the first girl in the state of Minnesota to show dairy cattle at the Minnesota State Fair. She was also a Nicollet County Dairy Princess. She attended Nicollet Public School. Rita studied at the University of Minnesota, St Paul and received a Bachelor degree in Agricultural Business. Later she attended Mankato State University to achieve a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education.

Rita was married to James Gibbs from 1980 to 2003. She experienced working a variety of jobs: from selling Allis Chalmers tractors, to teaching, to being a 3M customer service representative at Precision Press, and ending her work career at Scholarship America. She treasured the family vacations to Lutsen. Rita served on Trinity Church council in several positions over the years. Grandkids, gardens, writing, and traveling were her passions.

Rita is survived by children: Jennifer (Gibbs) and Jon Halvorson, Josie (Gibbs) and Matthew Lust, and Bradley Gibbs; grandchildren: Jakob, Evan, Aurora and Dorothy; brother Alex Johnson; nephews Nathaniel & Jessie Johnson and Michael Johnson; In-laws: Rick (Pam) Gibbs, Deb (Gary) Hruby, Barb (Mark) Ballman, and Linda Gibbs and their families. Rita is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Neal Johnson.