LaRita Jean Archibald

LaRita Archibald joined her loved ones in Heaven on May 13, 2023. LaRita was born November 14, 1931 on her great grandfather Vincent’s homestead in Harlan County, NE to Alvin and Marian (Parker) Vincent. At the age of 10, LaRita accepted Christ and was baptized by submersion in the Norton Kansas Baptist Church. She attended school in Long Island and Almena, KS. Following graduation from Brown-Mackie College of Business she was employed in Salina, KS by Shaver & Shaver Architects.

On November 25, 1950 LaRita married Eldon Archibald, her high school sweetheart. To their union was born Craig Eugene, Roger Kent, Karen Jane, Curtis Alan, and Kevin Stuart Archibald. In 1952 LaRita, Eldon and Craig moved from Manhattan, KS to Colorado Springs, CO where she lived the remainder of her life.

LaRita was a stay-at-home mom and was supportive of her children’s activities by being their Cub Scout leader, 4-H leader, and St. Paul United Methodist Church youth leader with Eldon.

After the self-inflicted death of her second-eldest son, Roger Kent in 1978, LaRita joined The American Association of Suicidology and helped develop the AAS National Survivor Committee, serving 2 years as co-chair. During 38 years of AAS membership, she presented at numerous conferences, chaired the first National Suicide Survivor conference and was awarded Crisis Worker certification and the initial AAS Survivor award.

In 1980 LaRita founded HEARTBEAT, one of the world’s first support groups for the suicide bereaved, wrote a guide for suicide bereavement support groups and directed formation of 44 international HEARTBEAT chapters. In the early 1980’s LaRita was among concerned Coloradans to organize SPARE, forerunner of the present Colorado Coalition for Suicide Prevention. In 1993, collaborating with a mental health professional and another suicide bereaved mother, LaRita co-founded the Suicide Prevention Partnership of the Pikes Peak Region (presently known as Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership). While volunteering as the organization’s Executive Director, she helped organize and activate the first suicide prevention hotline in the Pikes Peak Region. LaRita was one of several of those forming a Crisis Response Team upon the request of a 1990’s Schriever AFB Commander, co-authored a crisis response training manual, and for several years provided training and team development at Schriever and Peterson AFB. For 3 consecutive years LaRita was one of a 3 person training team that traveled to the United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AFB, in Germany, which inspired her to serve on Colorado Governor Lamm’s Committee for Colorado Children and Their Families, as Director on the Boards of the Stratton Home, Pikes Peak Region Mental Health Association and was a long-term volunteer as a TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for (military) Survivors) mentor and speaker. After serving as Director of HEARTBEAT for 31 years, LaRita retired in 2011 to write a book, Finding Peace Without All The Pieces After A Loved One’s Suicide.

LaRita’s love of adventure enticed her to be on a hot air balloon chase team, climb Pikes Peak at age 40 with her two youngest sons, Curtis and Kevin, and experience white water rafting (level 4) down the Arkansas River. She enjoyed family genealogy, travel, playing bridge, reading, fishing and a good joke.

LaRita was predeceased by her husband Eldon Archibald, son Roger Kent Archibald, daughter Karen Bradley, son-in-law Tim Bradley, her parents Alvin and Marian Vincent, and brother Loyal Vincent.

She is survived by sons Craig Archibald, (Ann Sperling, former wife), Curtis Archibald, and Kevin Archibald, 9 grandchildren Timothy (Kim) Bradley, Andrea (Sarah) Walter, Laura (Sam) Kelley, Katherine (Mike) Archibald, Lisa Archibald, Diana Archibald, Eric Archibald, Jennifer Archibald, and Steven (Sydnee) Archibald and 6 great grandchildren Jaden Bradley, Bailee Walter, Spencer Bradley, Layla Archibald, Mara Kelley, and Maryann Archibald, her brother Rodney Vincent (Julee), and sister-in-law Linda Vincent.

A memorial service for LaRita will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 2111 Carlton Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, 80909 on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.

Gifts honoring LaRita’s life may be sent to "Susan Golden Counseling Program" care of Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership, 704 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Swan-Law.com for the Archibald family.