Rita Elizabeth Kalmes

Rita Elizabeth Beary Kalmes, 65, of Bentonville and native of Lovilia, Iowa passed away Thursday, November 27th. She was born to Catherine Julia Knowles Beary and the late Martin Leo Beary in Albia, Iowa on September 15, 1949. She was active in 4-H, graduated Albia High School and was a clothing and textiles graduate of Iowa State University where she met and later married her adoring husband of over 40 years, Gary Joseph Kalmes. She was a lifelong Catholic. She enjoyed footfall, especially college football, sewing, cooking and upholstery. But, she loved being a wife, mother and grandmother. In addition to her grandparents, she was preceded in death by her father. Survivors include her mother, Catherine Beary of Albia; her husband, Gary Kalmes of Bentonville, Arkansas; her daughter, Kimberly (Shaun) Campbell of Richmond, Virginia; her son, Mark (Jane) Kalmes of Seattle, Washington; four grandchildren; two sisters; three brothers; her mother-in-law; six sisters-in-law; six brothers-in-law; as well as scores of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 2 from 6-8pm at Callison-Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville. The family will also receive friends from 3 until 8 pm, Thursday, December 4th at Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00pm, Friday December 5th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia. Interment will be at a later date in Richmond, Virginia.

Arrangements are under the care of Callison-Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville, Arkansas and Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, Iowa. Online condolences may be expressed at www.CallisonLough.com and www.TharpFH.com