Rita Helen Buegler

Rita Helen (Graner) Buegler passed away at the age of 79 on March 27, 2026 at Shorewood Senior Community in Rochester, MN after a lengthy illness with Alzheimer's Disease.

Rita was born to Robert & Stella (Plein) Graner on August 18, 1946, and was raised on the family farm in Plainview, MN. She graduated from Plainview High School in 1964 and attended Mankato Commercial College in 1965, graduating that same year. After graduation, she was employed at IBM where she continued working her entire career. Rita married Paul Wayne Buegler on July 16, 1966, and they made their home on the family farm in Pine Island, where they raised their two daughters, Pam and Amy. Paul and Rita took many fishing trips all over northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. Fishing was the most beloved activity they enjoyed together. In 1988 Paul & Rita moved to Rochester. Paul became ill with ALS, and Rita lovingly cared for Paul until he died in August, 1997. After Paul passed, Rita joined the Minnesota State Horticulture Society and the Rochester Garden & Flower Club, where she served on several committees and held leadership positions. Rita had a gift for planting and caring for her beautiful flower gardens, and her garden was featured on the Rochester Flower Tour. Upon retiring from IBM in 2003, Rita enjoyed traveling extensively with many beloved friends to places like Alaska, Hawaii and Europe. She visited almost every state in the US and enjoyed wintering in Arizona. Rita's Catholic faith was at the forefront of her life. She and Paul were founding members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, and they were active in volunteering to bring Holy Communion to local care center residents. Rita enjoyed spending time with her family and was especially loved for her wonderful family gatherings. She was an excellent cook and kept her home beautiful.

Rita is survived by her two daughters Pam (Steve) Mroz and Amy (Bill) Rinken, along with five grandchildren, Rebekah (Rayan) Kissoon, Reese Rinken, Benjamin Mroz, Emily Rinken (and fiancé Kohlten Dotydavitt), and Elizabeth Mroz, as well as great grandsons Caleb and Theodore Kissoon, and Rita's sister Marian Wegner and sister-in-law Carol Graner, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert & Stella (Plein) Graner, her husband Paul Buegler, her sister Lucy (Charlie) Tucker, and brother Edwin Graner.

Rita's family would like to extend a special, heartfelt thank you to the staff at Shorewood Senior Community, Comfort Home Health Care and Moments Hospice. Memorials to the family will be distributed according to Rita's wishes.

A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 5455 50th Ave. NW, Rochester, MN. Visitation will be held 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN and 10:30 AM Wednesday until the service at the church. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Mantorville, MN.

To view the livestream of the service, please click here or use the link below.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Buegler family. To share special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.