Rita Mae Ament, 82

Rita Mae Ament, 82, of Coeur d'Alene, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 19, 2014.

Rita was born May 29, 1932, in Olney, Minn., to Elizabeth Berning Krogman and Carl Krogman. She grew up in Ashton, Iowa.

Rita married Robert Nilles on Nov. 24, 1954, in Ashton, and they had five children: Diana, Mike, Dan, Jim and Julie. The family moved west to Hamilton, Mont., in 1966.

In 1994, Rita moved to Coeur d'Alene. She met Joseph Ament, and they married on Sept. 23, 2000. They had 14 happy years together dancing at the Eagles, watching Mariner games and faithfully attending their Catholic church daily.

Rita dearly loved her children and was a wonderful mother and wife.

Everyone described Rita as "a very special lady." And she was. Rita always made sure that you were well fed whenever you visited - always served on a neatly set table (with tablecloth) and on her best china. She had the best homemade pies and chocolate chip cookies. And she was fun to play Skip-Bo with - she liked to tell everyone what card they should play next! She also loved listening to the birds in the morning.

Rita loved her family whole-heartedly, no doubt. If any of her children were being teased or made fun of, Rita would defend them. With her eyes darting back and forth and her nose flaring while her head didn't move, when Rita got her German side going she was a force to be reckoned with. She had tremendous pride in her children.

Rita never did anything halfway - she always gave it her all. She taught us family values and the importance of family. Love and God and church were very important to her. Whenever she prayed for someone she would put their picture in the Bible. Her faith was strong.

Rita will be missed deeply by all who had the good fortune to have her in their lives.

She was preceded in death by her grandson, Thomas Rennaker; parents Elizabeth and Carl; and siblings Millie, Marion and Kenny.

Rita is survived by her husband, Joe Ament; children Diana Rennaker (Paul), Mike Nilles (Shauna), Dan Nilles, Jim Nilles (Cindy), and Julie West (Mark); stepsons Joe Ament (Marion), Tim Ament (Janis) and Bill Ament (Eileen); 32 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and great-step-grandchildren; sisters Aggie Epping, Clarice Hayes, and Delores Flick; brothers Carl Krogman and Phil Krogman; and first husband Robert Nilles.

A Catholic Mass for Rita will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, with lunch following, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 625 E. Haycraft Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

English Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.