Rita M. Lyon, age 81 of Grey Eagle, died Thursday, November 18, 2010 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 20, 2010 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Ronald Dockendorf officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Rita Mary Ostendorf was born April 18, 1929 in Birchdale Township, Todd County, Minnesota to Bernard "Ben" and Mathilda (Woeste) Ostendorf. She was united in marriage to Sidney Lyon on June 5, 1947 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle. Rita was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who spent most of her time being a homemaker. She also helped Sid in all aspects of farming on the family farm in Grey Eagle. Rita had also assisted in home health care and loved to take care of her friends and families' children.

She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle, Christian Mothers, and the Mission Group. Rita enjoyed quilting, crocheting, gardening and canning. She loved going shopping with her daughters and daughters-in-law, and being the pitcher while playing softball with her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Sidney A. "Sid" Lyon of Grey Eagle; children, Arthur (MaryAnn) Lyon of Rice, Grace (Kenneth) Edgar of Sauk Centre, Sidney L. (Jo Ann) Lyon of Sauk Rapids, Dale (Ruth) Lyon of Melrose, Audrey (Don) Olmscheid of Paynesville, Roger Lyon of Villard, Allen (Anna) Lyon of Foley, Dennis (LeaAnn) Lyon of Sauk Centre, Joe (Cathy) Lyon of Holdingford, Mary (Ron) Guetter of Willmar, Judy (Dave) Haus of Sauk Rapids, David Lyon of Marshall, Michael (Lori) Lyon of St. Joseph, Lloyd (Joan) Lyon of Rice, Tom (Meredith) Lyon of St. Joseph, and Nancy (Brian) Roske of Grey Eagle; 47 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Eddie (Gladys) Ostendorf of Fayetteville, NC, Leander Ostendorf of Tempe, AZ, Viola Berscheid of Melrose, Billy (Veta) Ostendorf of Citrus Heights, CA, Joanne (Richard) Heffron of Grey Eagle, and Lorraine (Jerry) Folta of Grey Eagle.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Melvin, Wilfred, LeRoy, Cyril, Gilbert, and Vernon Ostendorf; sisters, Irene Bullard and Anna May Ostendorf; and grandchildren, Mark Lyon, Linda Lyon, Doug Lyon, Grant Lyon, and Brady Lyon.

Serving as casket bearers will be Corey Lyon, Dana Guetter, Jeremy Lyon, Jodi Olmscheid, Jason Lyon, Rachel Arens, Scott Lyon, and Mariah Lyon. Cross bearer will be Craig Roske. Rita's grandchildren will be serving as the other participants in the mass.