Rita M. H. Hoying was born on 21 August 1925 on South Main Street in Minster to Anton J. and Mary A. Duwel Fortman.  She married Louis A. Hoying on 5 September 1955 and; he died 21 March 1982. Rita was the mother of three sons and four daughters, with four sons-in-law, twelve grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.  Surviving her are Fr. David Hoying, CPPS, of Carthagena, OH; Ruth and James Fullenkamp of Minster, OH with Rachael and Richard Faircloth with Adele, C.H. (deceased), and another coming soon; Dr. Louis and Alexandra Fullenkamp; Jack and Dr. Megan Fullenkamp with Layla; Louis H. Hoying, of Minster, OH; Therese and Steve Fledderjohn of West Chester, OH with Joshua and Alana Fledderjohn with Calvin and Dominic; Alex Fledderjohn; and Alyssa and Christopher Wade with Ezekiel, Cecilia, Bellamy, Reverie and Maxwell; Theodore Hoying, Minster, OH; Regine and W. Forst Elliot of Kettering, OH with Margaret, Caroline, Rebecca and William; Margaret and Michael Delaney of Cleveland, OH with Grace and Liam.  Rita is also survived by in-laws Charles and Marcille Hoying and Janet Hoying all of Minster, OH. She was preceded in death by her husband Louis, her parents, her parents-in-law Louis I. and Della Dickman Hoying, and her one sister Rosalyn and Paul Berger. Also, her in-laws Adele and George Fernandez, James and Irene Hoying, Donald and Edna Hoying, Marie Agnes Hoying, and Robert Hoying.  Rita grew up on the Duwel farm south of Minster, speaking only Low German, so with beginning school she had to learn English. Rita graduated from Minster High School in 1943. She then worked twelve years at the Minster State Bank, from 1943 to 1955. After marriage, she assisted at times at the Hoying and Westerheide Hardware Store. She belonged to several community, school, and parish organizations including the American Legion Auxiliary, Saint Monica Ladies Sodality, Catholic Ladies of Columbia, Minster Historical Society, Fort Loramie Historical Society, Auglaize County Historical Society, Miami and Erie Canal Corridor Association and Archaeological Society of Ohio.  Rita in her younger years served as a 4-H moderator, and in later years took college classes at Edison State Community College.

With her husband and son Rita co-authored Pilgrims All, a history of Saint Augustine Parish of Minster, published in 1982.  She served as parish archivist and parish tour guide and gave history and genealogy presentations.  She was coordinator and host of the parish history display, A Walk Through History, that was a feature of the Minster Oktoberfest for forty-three years.  Rita became widely known as a genealogist. She was the resource person for local genealogy and assisted many people in researching their ancestors. Rita had the ability to trace a person’s genealogy from memory. Rita was recognized for her contribution to the community when she was named Minster Citizen of the Year in 1990. She was also honored with being named the Grand Marshal of the Minster Oktoberfest Parade in 2015, the year of her 90th birthday.   Rita will be remembered by many for her beautiful penmanship. More importantly, she will be cherished by her family, as well as all those with whom she associated, as an intelligent and competent woman. Aways her own person, no one influenced her. A respectable person and of strong faith, she was loyal, had a keen sense of humor and an artistic flair, and accomplished much with great tact.  Mass of Christian will be held at 9:30 AM on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at St. Augustine Catholic Church with burial to follow in St. Augustine Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster from 3 to 7 PM on Friday, November 1, and from 8:30 to 9:00 AM on Saturday.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Minster Historical Society and Fort Loramie Historical Society. Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.