Sweet Home Funeral Chapel
  (formerly Workman & Steckly)
  1443 Long Street
  Sweet Home, Oregon 97386
  (541) 367-2891
  (541) 367-4095 Fax
  E-mail: Mac Olsen, Funeral Director

  Visa and MasterCard Accepted

On Tuesday, January 09, 2007, Rita Diane Oden, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend, was peacefully lifted up and released from her recent medical struggles and welcomed to God's eternal loving home. Rita leaves behind many loved ones whose lives are forever changed through her examples of strength, Christ-like love and easy-going spirit. With mounting cancer trials later in life, Rita showed strength in the knowledge of her increasing illness, and faced diversity with courage and optimism.

Rita was the second of five children born to Henry and Margaret Rebbe on September 27, 1942 in Rock Springs, Wyoming, where her father was employed as Superintendent of Schools. Her family later moved to Southern California in the early 50’s, where she graduated from Burbank High School in 1959. She attended the University of Southern California, majoring in microbiology, where she met her soul mate, Clifford L. Oden, and later married on September 12, 1964.

While moving from Southern California to New York during Cliff’s employment, together they raised three beautiful children, Craig, Eric, and Kimberli. The family was relocated to Brea, California in 1970 when ARCO relocated their corporate headquarters to Los Angeles. From 1970 to 1989, both Rita and Cliff volunteered their time and energies to many community organizations and youth programs that their children participated. The two were instrumental in the development and operation of both the Brea Booster & Community Foundations, while spearheading the planning, development and eventual construction of the new modern technologically advanced Brea High School.

When Rita’s husband Cliff retired from Atlantic Richfield Company in 1985 due to health problems, both of them set search over the next four years for the perfect retirement home and community, eventually settling in Foster, Oregon in 1989. Finding their “Dream Home” along side Foster Lake (Cliff thinks he’s a fisherman), both Rita and Cliff formed new friendships and became involved in many local community activities and economic development programs. In 1990, they teamed up with Marge Gail and other community organizers in developing the Sweet Home Economic Development Group and the initial Oregon Jamboree that continues today to benefit from their contributions.

Rita’s talents were many; including cooking, card making, calligraphy, needlework, scrap booking, and playing the electric piano. In addition to her God given abilities to touch the lives of all she met, Rita’s greatest accomplishments, memories, and fondest moments came as a wife, mother, and grandmother when preparing large festive meals on holidays and special occasions for the entire family and friends. She lovingly devoted her life to the relationship she shared with her husband Cliff, working side by side in accomplishing their shared interests and visions.

Rita’s presence in this life will be greatly missed. Her smile, charisma, and simple ability to bring joy and meaning to all those around her will continue to flourish in the lives that she has touched and shall serve as an example of her everyday belief that our true life's prodding and highest calling along its path is to truly love one another.

Rita is survived by her loving husband, Clifford Lorance Oden; her two sons Craig Lorance Oden and Eric Douglas Oden; her daughter Kimberli Jo (Oden) Schmidt; her step-daughter Michele Reichardt Robelen; her adoring grandchildren, Victoria and Katelyn Schmidt, Danielle, Dominique and Desire Oden; sisters Bette Tillett and Lana Fredericks; her brother Randall Rebbe; nieces and nephews Daniel and Dale Marks, Ted and Tim Oden, Debbie Tracy, Shannon Tillett, Cory Tillett, and Erin Fredericks.

A private celebration of Rita’s life will be held at her and Cliff’s residence on Saturday, January 13th starting at noon.

Arrangements by Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.