Rita Beyler

Beyler, Rita K.

Rita Kellogg Beyler, age 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at Oak Park Place in Madison. She was born on May 23rd, 1931 in Madison WI, daughter of Fred and Francis (Nichols) Kellogg.

Rita attended grade school and high school at Edgewood. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Rosary College. Rita married Ronald "Puck" Beyler in 1954, and after raising her 11 children, she returned to college at the age of 50 and received a master's degree in Social Work from UW-Madison and went on to work as a substance abuse counselor at the Meriter Hospital New Start program.

Rita was a devout Catholic and an avid member of Blessed Sacrament Church for many years. With 11 children of her own, she still had the compassion to offer her home to foster children and others in need. In addition, she somehow found time to work as a Tupperware dealer to save money for many cherished family vacations that otherwise would not have been possible. Rita enjoyed playing the piano and her ragtime tunes naturally became the soundtrack for the Beyler household. Throughout her life, she enjoyed tap dancing, ballroom dancing, horseback riding, traveling, and playing scrabble with her dear friends. In recent years, she found joy in watching the birds and other animals at her feeders. She lived a long and fulfilling life and was looking forward to being with God.

Rita is survived by her children Marilyn (Jim) Jafferis, Eric (Patty) Beyler, Al (Pam) Beyler, Nancy Beyler, Jackie McClarity Beyler (Zane), Matt (Connie) Beyler, Tracy (Michael) Seyfert, Mark Beyler, Geary (Julie) Beyler, Val Beyler, Jenny (Christian Hauselmann) Beyler, Curt (Michelle) Beyler; 22 grandchildren, Jason (Kristin) Jafferis, Kara (Andy Champeau) Jafferis, Kenny Beyler, Dan (Yeng) Beyler, Lindsay Beyler, Ronald "RJ" Beyler, Harlan Beyler, Josie Beyler, Josh Beyler, Jordan Beyler, Jhett Beyler, Nina (Larry) Bredehorn, Matt Sebastian, Kelli Lamphere, Nicole Beyler, Nathan Beyler, Zaina Beyler, Sophia Beyler, Weston Beyler, Maya Beyler, Henry Beyler, Kate Beyler; and 5 great grandchildren, Annika Jafferis, Ellie Jafferis, Xander Meso, Travis Atkinson and Liam Bredehorn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Francis Kellogg; two brothers, Fred Kellogg Jr and Frank Kellogg; three sisters, Sally Kellogg, Kathleen Kellogg McGuire, and Mary Fran Kellogg; and her son, Zane Beyler.

A visitation will be held from 10:00am until 11:00am on Monday, June 18th, 2018 at Blessed Sacrament Church, 2121 Rowley Avenue, Madison, WI, 53726, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am. Burial will follow and will take place at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

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Cress Funeral Home
3610 Speedway Road
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 238-3434