Mary Rita was born on March 1, 1927 the last child of John and Mary “Mamie” Determan and she died December 22, 2025 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, South Dakota at the age of 98 years.

Mary Rita attended country school and had her sister Hilda as one of her teachers. Mary Rita graduated from St. Mary’s High School in O’Neill, NE in 1945. After that she took a summer course to teach school and taught for one year.

On June 4, 1947 she married Paul Leibel and to this union Mary Louise and Raymond John were born.

She was a full time mother and cook on the farm. Many meals and a whole lot of baking was done. She was known for her rolls, especially long johns with nuts. All of her grandchildren loved them.

In 1989, Paul and Mary Rita moved to town. She began at this time working at the Sacred Heart Church and also at the thrift center. She retired from her church duties in 2014 and continued to work at the thrift store until moving to silver Threads in May of 2019. In August 2019 her home was destroyed from the tornado, and it was a good thing she wasn’t living there.

Mary Rita enjoyed Silver Threads, participating in all of the activities they offered. She loved to play cards and would play solitaire by the hours. Mary Rita was a life time member of the VFW Auxiliary.

She is survived by her daughter Mary Lou (Tom) and grandchildren Brad (Becky) of Yankton, SD, Tim (Mary) of Laurel, Montana, Nicole (Jason) of Parkston, SD, Jenn (Dan) of Huron, SD, Angie (Neil) of Stuart, NE, John of Burke, SD, and Lexi (Cole) of Howard, SD, 14 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Mary Rita was preceded in death by her husband Paul, son Ray, her parents, Paul’s parents, her siblings; Ben, Bertha Putnam, Clarence, Florence Karrels, Hilda Raymond, Irene, Leo and Ray and all of Paul’s siblings.

The family of Mary Rita would like to extend a heart-filled thank you for the excellent care provided by the Silver Threads and the Burke Memorial Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Rita Leibel, age 98, of Burke, SD will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at 10:30AM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke, SD. Burial will follow in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. There will be a rosary on Monday December 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to both services at the Church.