MERRIMAC / CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP  --  Lila Beich Rietmann, age 93, passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Tivoli in Portage.

Lila was born on February 18, 1922, in Caledonia Township, the daughter of Gustave and Anna (Behnke) Beich, Sr.  She married Albert Rietmann on April 28, 1940 in Dubuque, Iowa.  Albert preceded her in death on July 30, 1994.  Lila and Albert farmed all their lives in Caledonia Township.  Lila enjoyed farming, quilting, gardening, nature, and music.  She was a very strong and independent woman.  She loved spending time with her family.                       

She is survived by her nine children, Kay (Leon) Maass, of Montello, JoAnn (John) McLean, of DeForest, Judy (Edmund) Nichols, of Portage, Randall (Jane) Rietmann, of Merrimac, Thomas Rietmann, of Redondo Beach, California, Robert (Andrea) Rietmann, of Merrimac, Larry (Shelley) Rietmann, of Merrimac, Rick (April) Rietmann, of Emporia, Kansas, and Jill (Philip) Koch, of Merrimac; her son-in-law, William Zamzow, of Princeton; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, other near relatives and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and her daughter, Rita Zamzow, three brothers, Freddie, Walter, and Gustave, Jr. “Buster” Beich, five sisters, Helen Dittberner, Caroline Beich, Adeline Hurst, Dorothy Gresch, and Edith Begh. 

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Monday, March 16, 2015 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, with Rev. David Hankins officiating.  Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery, in Caledonia Township.  Visitation will be held on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the services at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to St. Paul’s Cemetery Association of Caledonia Township.