Riha, Mildred Rose

Mildred Rose Riha, 100, of Toledo, passed away Friday, May 20, 2011, at Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with Deacon Joe Behounek officiating. Interment will follow at National Cemetery, rural Vining. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Mildred was born Sept. 27, 1910, in rural Vining, the daughter of Charles and Anna (Sokol) Herink and attended York No. 9 country school. On Dec. 30, 1931, she was united in marriage to Fred L. Riha in Toledo. They moved to their farm near Vining, where she helped Fred with the farm while raising their family. She enjoyed the company of many friends throughout her long life and was a willing helper to all she knew. In 1997, the couple moved to Willow Apartments, Toledo, where she continued to live after her husband's death.

Mildred and Fred did much traveling and she especially enjoyed trips to visit her grandchildren and their families. She was an avid reader and enjoyed working word puzzles in her retirement years until her eyesight failed. Mildred loved music and dancing to “Barefoot Becky,” especially on her 100th birthday and later.

Mildred was a 40+-year member of the Elberon Legion Auxiliary and a 75-year member of Western Fraternal Life Association. In 2006, she was made an honorary member of ZCBJ Lodge Rolnik No. 146, Irving, Iowa.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Fred in 2003; five brothers, Fred, Ernest, Charles, Lester and Ludwig Herink; and two sisters, Agnes Herink and Libbie Starits.

Survivors include one daughter, Marcella (Frank) Nekola of Toledo; one son, Duane (Myrna) Riha of Longs, S.C.; five grandchildren, Randy (Cheryl) Nekola, Gary (Beth) Nekola, Danny (Dawn) Nekola, Cindy (the late Ted) Williams and Cathy (Mike) McKillip; 10 great-grandchildren, Megan (Mike) Chumbley, Haley (David) Holbrook, Treye, Ashley, Darah, Benjamin, Ciara and Derek Nekola, Tara and Kari Williams; and four great-great-grandchildren, Savanah and Caroline Chumbley, Caden and Baby Holbrook.

A memorial fund has been established.