Frances's service and her Tribute Video may be found on this page, following her obituary.

Frances Esther Ritterling was born on December 16, 1930, in York, Nebraska, the daughter of Henry C. & Emelie (Albright) Schardt. Frances was baptized, and later confirmed, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedensau, Nebraska. She attended Friedensau North Grade school, and later, Deshler High School, graduating in May, 1949.

Following high school, Frances worked for banks in Fairbury, and then Lincoln, before she returned home to Thayer County. On November 28, 1954, Frances was united in marriage to Lawrence Ludwig Ritterling at the Trinity Lutheran Church, by Pastor H.P. Miller. To this union of 56 years, five children were born, Randy, Curtis, Marcia, Lyle and Lynette.

Frances and Lawrence farmed together in the Byron area for 43 years. They moved into Byron in 1994. Frances then went to work at Chester-Hubbell-Byron Schools for several years. Frances was a member of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, rural Byron, and was active in various church groups, including the quilting guild. She also enjoyed a good game of pitch with family and friends.

Frances lived near or in Byron for most of her life, only recently moving to Parkview in Deshler.

Frances passed away on September 7, 2021, at the age of 90 years, 8 months, and 22 days.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lawrence in 2011, sisters Irma Ohlrich and her husband Lawrence, Lorine Ruprecht and her husband Reuben, Emily Siebenneicher and her husband Wayne, Valora Wurtz and her husband Herman, Mildred Holtzen and her husband Elmer; brothers Edgar and his wife Vera, Paul and his wife Grace, and Leonard and his wife Alice; brothers-in-law Delmar Eickman, Norman Ritterling, Orville Ritterling and his wife Elaine, and son-in-law Peter Mimmo.

She is survived by her children, Randy Ritterling of Kearney, Curtis Ritterling of Evansville, Indiana, Marcia Steblay and her husband Nick of Ramsey, Minnesota, Lyle Ritterling and his wife Brenda of Byron, and Lynette Ritterling of Belleville.

Frances is also survived by her grandchildren, Jason Ritterling, Sara Ritterling Patry and her husband Clint, Elliott Ritterling, Ethan Ritterling, Abby Ritterling, Laura Steblay, Megan Steblay, and by her great-grandchildren Sawyer Ritterling and Cody Patry.

She is also survived by her twin sister Florence Eickmann, brothers-in-law Marvin Ritterling and his wife Tobe, Verland Ritterling and his wife Mary; and sister-in-law Myrna Ritterling, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be Sunday, September 12th, 2021, from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with family greeting friends from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville.

Funeral Services will be Monday, September 13th, at 10:00 am, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, rural Byron. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorials are requested to the Byron Public Library, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home of Belleville assisted the Ritterling family with these arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com