Rita Marie Romanyshyn, 59, Belfield, died Monday, August 19, 2019 as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident near her home. There will be a Panakhyda at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Ladbury Funeral Service with Fr. Myroslav Dumych and Deacon Leonard Kordonowy presiding. Inurnment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fairfield.
Rita Marie Romanyshyn was born September 29, 1959, the daughter of Steve and Mable Mildred (Dutchuk) Romanyshyn. Prior to her birth, her father Steve and brother Leonard died in a farm house fire near Fairfield. Thereafter the remaining members of the family moved to Belfield. Rita grew up in Belfield until her mother married Albert Berdahl in 1970. The family then moved to Sturgis, S.D. when they purchased and operated the Log Cabin Motel for approximately four years and then the family returned to Belfield, where Rita attended Belfield Public School and graduated in 1977.
She attended college and graduated from Dickinson State College. While in college, Rita played basketball where she was an accomplished player. She also coached others and helped them to develop their skills. Rita always found great enjoyment in sports.
Shortly after college, Rita, Mildred and Albert formed the MR Ranch Corporation, where they raised cow-calf pairs along with a feed lot operation. Later MR Ranch purchased the Club 85 Bar which was located north of Belfield along Highway 85 and only five miles from the ranch. They operated this for three years.
Rita became a commercial truck driver and drove for Swift Trucking Corp. where she drove over a million miles and received employee awards for her service. In 2017, she retired from trucking and returned to the ranch to care for her mother and step-father until their death. She LOVED them Dearly.
Rita is survived by her two brothers, Thomas Romanyshyn and Rainald Romanyshyn. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father; and step-brother, Alfred Berdahl.
