Our beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend Rita Lee Campbell Lucy passed away after a difficult journey through lung cancer on January 20, 2024 surrounded by her family at her home on the Lucy Farm.

Rita was born to Robert C. and Dominica Maszk Campbell on March 10, 1931. She was raised on the R. C. Campbell homestead near Lignite, North Dakota, and although the family didn’t accumulate great wealth farming during the Great Depression, her life as a farm kid was full of simple pleasures. She enjoyed close relationships with her siblings, cousins, and neighbors, and learned to be a strong woman from her pioneer mother.

After graduating from Lignite High School and earning her teaching certificate in Minot, Rita taught school for one year at the Lucy Township Country School where she boarded at the home of her future in-laws, Timothy E. and J. Agnes Lucy, on the J. D. Lucy homestead northeast of Powers Lake. It was here that Rita came to live the rugged life of a farm wife and mother after she married John P. (Jack) Lucy on October 13, 1952. Rita and Jack raised their 7 children on the family farm, which is still owned and operated by her sons.

Rita spent her life in selfless service to others. Rita was the Lucy Township treasurer for many years and was active in her church and community, but her #1 priority was always her family. She tended to a huge garden that she harvested to put meals on the table for her farm family until she was 91 years old. She baked “Rita buns” and homemade bread at least once a week, and almost always had a delicious treat for an afterschool snack and her farm crew. She sewed most of her daughters’ clothes, including many prom and wedding dresses. Rita was as handy as she was practical, refurbishing the farmhouse after a fire nearly destroyed the family home in 1972 and installing a new roof on the farmhouse in her 60s.

Rita somehow found time for reading and delicate embroidery work and, in her later years, quilting. Every child and grandchild treasurers the quilts she made for them. Her loss of sight to macular degeneration several years ago sadly put an end to many of the hobbies she enjoyed, but she never lost her quick wit. Even in her final days, she was able to make us laugh.

Rita suffered deep loss when her baby sister contracted encephalitis, rendering her an invalid, and again when losing her first born baby Dawn after only a few hours. More recently, she lost her husband, Jack; and son-in-law, Richard Duoos in 2003, and all three siblings in the past 6 years (Mary Hagen, Dennis Campbell, Lois Hawbaker).

Rita is survived by her 7 children;: Timothy J. (Ladelle) Lucy of Powers Lake, Diana (Tod) Maleckar of Naples FL, Jacquelyn Duoos of Powers Lake, Jane (Merlyn) Sem of Powers Lake, Robert J. Lucy (Malonie Jorstad) of Powers Lake and Tioga, Michelle (Dennis) Hammer of New Milford CT, Juliette Lucy (Andrew) Jordan of Park City UT; her 14 grandchildren; John W. (Karen) Lucy, Anne (Jesse) Puckett, Kathleen Lucy (Shawn Cote), Jean (Robert) Watterud, Kelli (Max) Krasity, Laura Maleckar, Abrielle Duoos (Christopher Padleski), Susan (Brandon) Erickson, Nathan (Courtney) Sem, Aleshia Lucy, Jacob Lucy, Dennis P. (Melanie) Hammer, Derik Hammer, Jennifer (Anthony) Costa; 33 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; numerous close nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.

As a mother and grandmother, she taught by example, always kind and generous. Rita always said, “if you can’t say anything nice about a person, don’t say anything at all.” Well, Mom, we are certain that everyone is saying only nice things about you. You were our loving, strong, beautiful mother and friend. May you rest in peace.