Rita Virginia Bakke, born September 10, 1934, passed away from Lung Cancer on September 21, 2013 at the Mountain View Medical Center in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, at the age of 79. Rita was born to Cecil Ray Bright and Ella Mae Cole Bright, in her family’s home, on South Ewing Street in Helena, Montana.
Rita graduated high school from Cathedral High School was a member of the Honor Society, and received a College Scholarship. She married J. Sam Bakke on May 11, 1956 at the Saint Catherine’s Catholic Church in Boulder, Montana. Rita was office Manager for the State of Montana Gas Tax Refund Department, and after moving to California, she worked for the Cupertino Union School District as a Bus Driver for 30 years in Cupertino, CA. She was loved by all the young children she transported over the years, and she was fondly remembered as “Mrs. Bus” by the hundreds of children she drove.
Rita was an outstanding and devoted mother and wife of her three children Catherine J. Bakke, Dave C. Bakke, and Dana L. Villegas and her husband J. Sam Bakke for 57 years. Rita kept busy remembering birthdays and holidays for her three grandchildren Greg Bakke, Ryan Villegas, and Erik Villegas along with her great-grand daughter Addilyn Bakke. Rita had just turned 79 years old the day she entered the hospital in White Sulphur Springs, MT.
Rita and Sam moved back to their home state of Montana to live out their lives. Rita loved gardening, reading, outdoor traveling, visiting the Ocean, keeping in touch with relatives and friends on birthdays and holidays. Fall was Rita’s favorite time of year and loved decorating during the Holiday Seasons. She will also be missed by her 19 year old cat “Sir Puss” who adopted both Sam and Rita when they moved to White Sulphur Springs. We all love Rita so much and will miss her loving presence. She leaves a great void in our lives.
Rita is survived by her husband John Samuel Bakke, her three children, son, Dave C. Bakke; daughter, Catherine J. Bakke; and daughter, Dana L. Villegas (Mark) and six brothers and sisters, Beverly Ernst, James bright, Les Lavender, Gary Bright, Diane Wenger, and Mike Bright. Four Grandchildren, Greg Bakke, Ryan Villegas, Erik Villegas and Rachel Church and one Great-Grandchild Addilyn Bakke. Rita also has numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. Rita is preceded in death by both of her parents and brothers and sisters Donald Bright, Shirley Wagner, Cecil Ray Bright Jr., Charlene Van Daele, Terry Bright, Robert Bright, and Tom Bright.
Service Schedule
Mass of Christian Burial
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Thursday September 26, 2013
Cathedral of Saint Helena
530 N. Ewing Street
Helena , Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Mass of Christian Burial
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Thursday September 26, 2013
Cathedral of Saint Helena
530 N. Ewing Street
Helena , Montana 59601
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Cathy Bakke says
My mother, grandmother and greatgrandma to my children and my sister Dana’s children what wonderful memories she left us. You Miss Rita will never be forgotten!
Allen Stenhjem Family says
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with Sam and the family .God Bless.
Lisa says
Rest in peace Aunt Rita, on behalf of the Wagner family. I will miss you and your kindness. Our prayers and condolences go out to Sam, Cathy, Dave and Dana and their families.
Love,
Lisa
Val and Mike Bright says
We remember Rita as always having an open home to family whenever they wanted. She invited people to help themselves to the kitchen, just clean up after themselves. She had many stories to tell about her students when she was a bus driver, what laughs we had. Rita had the greatest humor. Even in the hospital, she laughed at getting caught sneaking outside for a cigarette and getting sent back to bed. She enjoyed a good cup of coffee also. Her hair and nails were immaculate and she had a huge container of nail polish of every color. Her home was always clean. Rita always loved Halloween and decorated everything around her. She had a beautiful gazebo decorated with every kind of jack-o-lantern in California. She enjoyed gardening, both flowers and veggies.
Rita’s love of life and enthusiasm for adventures will missed. She leaves behind a great legacy for her siblings, and immediate family. We loved her and will always remember her.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Rita’s family during this sad time.
Love,
Mike and Val
Shanon McMaster says
Rita will be missed. She was a great lady and a joy to be around. Our thoughts and prayers are will the family.
Love Johno, Shanon and Shaun McMaster
Mark, Dana, Ryan and Erik says
To the most kind, wise and loving mother and grandmother a person could ask for. Mom, you will be missed and thought of every single day of every year for the rest of our lives. Thank you, mom… we love and miss you always.
Ryan and Erik says
To a grandmother who never missed a single school event, football game, baseball game, or awards event and who spent countless hours with us all throughout our life, especially during those fun early years. Grandma, above everything, you were always consistently kind with us, regardless of situation, and we so appreciate that more than you will know. We’ll think of you for the rest of our days, I’m sure of it. Love you, grandma.
Mike Bright says
Rita, just wanted you to know some of the best memories of my childhood were staying with you and Sam at your places on West Main and Broadway. A never ending supply of free comics from Bakke Drugs and and being able to sample all the latest goodies that mom could not afford, where else could I throw a couple of Fizzies in my mouth until they foamed out my nose . Tell mom, dad, and the rest of the clan I miss them and pray for them when I make it to Mass. Also have mom watch my little girl until I get there.
Bob & Jeanne McCoskery says
Sam & Family,
Our thoughts & prayers are with you all.
Love, Bob & Jeanne McCoskery
karen vincent says
Dave,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I know you were very close to your mom,
Karen Vincent
Paul Jercha and the Jercha Kids says
There were two wonderful caring moms that lived on Lorelei ct. in Campbell.
My mom, and Rita Bakke. Rita made the holidays fun, especially Halloween.
She always spoke with kindness , yet you knew she was in charge. And hey,
she tolerated me as Dave’s friend too!!! That was pretty special.
Rita, you will alwys be a bright part of my childhood.
Sam, Dave , Cathy, Dana: Our hearts are with you.