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Rita F. Manko, 72

Rita F. Manko, resident of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, formerly of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash., passed away on Feb. 21, 2018 at the age of 72.

Rita was born in Lusk, Wyo., to Fern Lucille Wells and Noah Brooks Thomas on March 27, 1945. She grew up in Casper, Wyo. and attended college at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. She married David Manko of Coeur d’Alene.

She spent many years in the travel business, starting as a flight attendant with Frontier Airlines in Denver, Colo. She worked at Spokane Valley Travel (US Travel) in Spokane and later joined her husband at his law firm in 1989.

Rita was fortunate to be able to travel the world. She enjoyed time with her friends and had a divine time playing games with friends. In her youth, she was an avid skier and began a lifelong love affair with reading. Rita and Dave sponsored a nationally recognized motorcycle racing team. She also loved gloating about beating her loving friends at cards.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Fern Wells Thomas, her father, Noah Brooks Thomas and her husband, David Manko.

She will be missed by her brother, Flynn Tolbert of Billings, Mont.; her beloved dog, Miss T; nephew, Mark and family; nieces, Jacque and Michelle and families; and best friends, Gay, Pam, Dawn, Stephanie and Barb.

A graveside service will take place at the end of June. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Hospice of North Idaho (The Schneidmiller House) in Hayden, Idaho.