Dr. Rita Resch

Tolley

Dr. Rita Marie Resch, 87, of Tolley, N.D., and Warrensburg, Mo., passed away in Warrensburg on July 6, 2024. She was a DMA, Professor Emerita, soprano, author and farmer.

She was born on Dec. 26, 1936, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Minot. She was the only child of Clement Charles and Magdalena “Lena” Marie (Zeltinger) Resch. A Third generation teacher, she followed in the tradition of her grandfather Ignatius and mother, Lena Zeltinger. She was a sixth generation American farmer (including four generations of North Dakota farmers). Crops are presently being grown on her farms in Tolley.

Dr. Resch attended St. Agnes Boarding School and graduated Tolley High School 1953 at age 16. She received a BS Education from Minot State College 1957, MM Literature from Eastman School of Music, Rochester, N.Y., in 1960; MA in English Literature from University of North Dakota in 1967, MFA in Voice from the University of Iowa in 1973, and a DMA in piano chamber music/accompanying from the University of Iowa in 1974.

She was a music teacher (vocal) at Biwabik School District in Minnesota from 1957-1958, South Redford Township Detroit from 1958-1959, Music Instructor at Fontbonne College, St Louis, Mo., from 1960-1963; Assistant Professor of Music at Wisconsin State University, Stevens Point, from 1965-1968; University of Central Missouri (formerly Central Missouri State University), Warrensburg, from 1974-1979; Associate Professor at UCM from 1979-1989, Professor at UCM from 1989-2005; and Professor Emerita at UCM since 2005.

Dr. Resch was a member of the Missouri Music Teachers Association (Vice President auditions 1995-1998), Music Teachers National Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Pi Kappa Lambda, Sigma Alpha Iota.

She also contributed 25 years of service as patroness, assistant advisor and advisor to the Epsilon Omega Chapter of the Sigma Iota music fraternity, Life Member of Hereditary Society of Teachers, and a Life Member of The National Society Descendants of American Farmers. She was a member and Associate Organist of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Tolley, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Warrensburg, Mo. (40 years, 1980-2020).

She was incredibly respected by her students and colleagues who appreciated her musical talent and rapier wit. Many students wrote notes to her after graduation telling her how much they appreciated her. She devoted 31 years to CMSU having nurtured the musical abilities of hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to become excellent teachers. Her work outside the classroom included service to various Faculty Senate committees, the College of Arts Sciences’ Committee and Dean’s Advisory Committee and service to the Department of Music’s Curriculum, Recital, Newsletter (“Overture”), Promotion and Tenure Committees.

In addition to campus performances, she was involved in research activities that included co-authoring the book, Art Song in the United States: An Annotated Bibliography, published in 1976 with subsequent editions in 1987, 2001 and 2012.

She was an avid and skilled bridge player. She loved beauty and always made sure she had flowers in her yard every spring. She loved nature. Her entire deck was devoted to birds and bird feeders. No furniture, just birds! And she loved and took care of any cat that happened her way, including her beloved cat, Miss Freddy. She was generous to a fault, contributing to any organization or cause that reached out to her. She even opened her home to a friend that struggled financially and had no home. She did not love cooking, but she did love a delicious Angel Food Cake on her birthday in December. She enjoyed immensely Dr. Lawrence’s homemade mint ice cream. Rita always shopped for several children each year from the Angel Tree at Christmas. She was shopping one holiday season. Her cart was empty when she ran into her friend, Karin with her three children. Rita asked Karin and her children to help shop for the Angel Tree children as Rita wanted help to purchase gifts that children would really like.

Family: Godson, Mark Anthony Zeltinger; cousins, Joann Resch Cruse, Martin and Evelyn Irgens, Evan and Deb Zeltinger, Carl A. and Laurie Zeltinger, Priscilla and Stuart Robertson, and many, many other cousins; and her dear and caring friends, Ms. Wendy Stallins and Dr. Robert Lawrence.

The family expresses appreciation to Mrs. Laura Gillum, Dr. Syed Hasan, Mr. Douglas Harris, Ms. Wendy Stallins, Dr. Robt Lawrence, Dr. Wesley True, Three Rivers Hospice and Ridge Crest Nursing Facility, and Marilyn Olson.

Mass of Christian Burial: 2 p.m., Friday, July 19, 2024, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare. Friends may sign the guestbook one hour prior to the service, or the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com.

Burial: St. Charles Catholic Cemetery, Tolley.

Recitation of the Rosary: 1:30 p.m., Friday, at the church.

Memorials: Gifts in her memory may be directed to: Rita Resch Vocal Studies Scholarship Endowment, C/O UCM Alumni Foundation, PO Box 900, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)

Published by The Minot Daily News, July 16, 2024.