Shirley Ray Rittenhouse

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport with Pastor Ron Nuss-Warren officiating.  Interment will follow at Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery with military honors provided by the Nebraska Army National Guard.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Bridgeport Memorial Chapel.  Memorials may be given to Home Health or church. 

He was born on February 6, 1925 in Rice, Nebraska to Clinton M. and Maude E. (Rice) Rittenhouse. He worked for his father’s 160 acre farm while going to school.  He entered the United States Army on July 27, 1944.  He served with the 36th Fighter Squadron in Fukuoka, Japan and with 164th Infantry in the Pacific Theater of Operations.  He participated in the South Philippines Campaign where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal along with numerous other medals.  Shirley was honorably discharged on July 29, 1946.

Shirley married Edna Louise Pinkston on June 15, 1947 in Lewellen, Nebraska and to this union three children were born Ralynn, LeAnn and LaNell.

Shirley was known to his grandkids as Papa and to his great grandkids as Big Papa.  He was involved with their lives to the fullest of his capabilities.  He enjoyed their extracurricular activities throughout the years.  He watched every sporting event that he could, and helped with 4-H when needed.  One year, he even bought a lamb at the county fair because his granddaughter couldn’t bear to part with her pet.

The grandkids loved going to the dump with papa on Saturday mornings. They were able to help drive on the way home, and there was always coffee flavored candy in the glove box for a treat!  During the years that he and grandma owned the bakery, he brought donuts to the grandkids on Saturday mornings.  Shirley loved to fish.   In the early 60’s he started a small business and made fishing lures.  He also senned minnows and caught night crawlers, that he sold from his home.

Shirley helped the grandkids learn how to fish and spent many hours at the lake baiting hooks and taking the fish off when one was caught.  Many of the great grandkids have memories of Big Papa fishing with them at the lake. The grand and great grandkids enjoyed visiting Papa to learn stories about how things were done “in the old days”. He told a history of the area that could not be learned from textbooks. 

Shirley was a kind and loving person who had a gentle soul.  He was a wonderful father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend.  His family was very important to him.  He was also a very dear friend to many and had a special relationship with his providers and caregivers.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his children: LeAnn and Kent Laurent of Bridgeport; grandchildren: Jennifer ten Bensel  (Kirk McConville) of Indianola, NE, Jessica (Cody) Renkoski of Sidney, Kent E. Jr (Kristen) Laurent of Grand Island, Becky Rittenhouse of Sidney and Alecia Laurent of Kearney; great grandchildren: Jacob, Luke, John and Gracelynn ten Bensel, Natalie and Gabby Rittenhouse, Ava Laurent and Kade and Michael Rittenhouse; special nieces Hope Sherfey and Roseanna Brassfield; and sister-in-law Marlene Ramsey and and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Edna, son Ralynn, sisters Olive Fiesterman and Margie Lane and brother Roy Rittenhouse.

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