Rita A. Stehno

Rita Ann (Pachta) Stehno, of Munden, Kansas, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2025, the rosary in her hand guiding her home to spend Thanksgiving with her husband and family in heaven.

Rita was born March 6, 1939, to Vincent and Magdalena (Baxa) Pachta in Belleville, Kansas. She was raised on the family farm east of Belleville and attended Prairie Home Country School before graduating from Belleville High School in 1956. On August 21, 1962, she married James LeRoy Stehno at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Belleville. Rita and Jim cherished their life together on the farm with their three children: Michele Ann, Melanie Sue, and Mark James.

Rita was employed by Bogart’s IBM Department and Peoples National Bank, and she attended IBM School in Kansas City, Missouri. She later worked at the Munden State Bank, in food service at the local school, at the job bank, and as the Republic County Food Bank Manager. Rita also drove a school bus for 30 years. In every role, she was dedicated to helping others. You could see in her warm, welcoming smile the love she held for her community.

Family, faith, and community were the cornerstones of Rita’s life. The years on the farm with Jim raising their three children were kept near and dear to her heart. Rita and Jim cared deeply for their children and grandchildren, always cheering them on. They brought so much joy to their hearts. Rita dearly loved the role of great grandma later in life enjoying the artwork, hugs, videos, pictures, holidays and watching them grow. She treasured time with her extended family and close relationships with her siblings. She enjoyed the fun and energy her nieces and nephews brought to family gatherings and every holiday.

Rita’s Catholic faith was central to her life. She was an active member of St. George’s Catholic Church, serving as one of its first Eucharistic Ministers, an officer of the CCW, and a longtime CCD teacher. Her devotion was an anchor in her life, with daily Mass and her rosary bringing her comfort and strength.

Committed to her community, Rita served as a 4-H leader and a 4-H cooking project leader, wholeheartedly supporting her children in their 4-H and FFA activities. She loved teaching others to bake her famous kolaches especially her nieces and nephews. She will be remembered with a spatula in one hand, a rosary in the other, and a smile as sweet as her cinnamon rolls.

Rita is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, her brothers Edward Pachta and Raymond Pachta, stepsisters Irene Popelka, and Marcella Koukol, and sister-in-law Catherine Pachta. Rita is survived by her children: Michele (Bill) Hoffmann, Melanie Stehno, and Mark (Carrie) Stehno; her grandchildren: Nicholas (Stephanie) Hoffmann, Magdalen Stehno, and Mitchell Stehno; and her great-grandchildren, Gemma and Elsie Hoffmann. Other survivors include her sister, Sister Bernadine Pachta; brothers Joseph, Vincent (Judy), and John (Fran) Pachta; sister-in-law Carol Pachta, sister-in-law Deloris Pachta, brother-in-law Ed (Donna) Stehno, sister-in-law Theresa (Mike) Donahue, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and a host of friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, December 5, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Edward Catholic Church in Belleville. Burial will follow at St. George Catholic Cemetery, rural Munden.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 4th, from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville. Rosary / Vigil Services will be at 6:00 pm Thursday at St. Edward Catholic Church. The family will greet friends at the church following the Rosary.

Memorials are requested to the Rita Stehno Memorial, and may be sent to Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, Kansas, 66935.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home is assisting the Stehno family with arrangements.