Rita Mae Krebs-Lee was born July 13, 1922, in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Lee and Minerva (Golden) Graybill. She met Robert (Bob) Krebs of Appleton while he was a student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Rita and Bob were married at the First Congregational Church in Appleton on September 16, 1944. They moved to Minneapolis where Bob completed his education at the University of Minnesota. They returned to Appleton where Bob joined Northwestern State Bank with his father and uncle. Bob later became President of the Bank. Rita enjoyed raising her family, doing a radio show with KDIO of Ortonville, and was very active in the Appleton community. She was a member of the First Congregational Church, VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries, golf club, youth center, bowling league, and Club 14 bridge club. Rita was well known for her creative talents and was a "GRATE" cook. Though she and Bob sold the bank and moved away in 1972, Appleton was always "home" to Rita, and as often as possible she returned to visit her friends. It was her greatest joy to catch up on their lives and Appleton. Rita and Bob lived in Lake Havasu City, Arizona from 1972 to 1978 where she worked at the Rodeway Inn, greeting guests with her one-of-a kind grace and humor. In 1978 they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in hopes, Rita said, that more of their friends would visit them. And visit they did as evidenced by the many comments of those who signed her guest books through the years. Rita worked for MLT in Las Vegas, greeting travelers at the airport, a job she thoroughly loved. Sometimes, as travelers were deplaning in Las Vegas, she would announce to the group, "welcome to Albuquerque", and enjoy their confused reactions. She was even known to request Minnesota walleye from travelers on their return flight. She retired just eight years age at 80 years of age. Rita loved to "people watch" and never met a stranger. She would often strike up conversations with those she saw during her frequent outings. Rita was a devoted fan of Mickey Mouse and Disneyland. She had an entire room in her home decorated with Mickey memorabilia and she visited Disneyland many times throughout the years. She served as Grand Marshal of the Disneyland Parade on July 13, 2010, her last birthday. On December 18, 1999, Rita married Bob Lee at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas. Rita and Bob shared a home in Las Vegas until her passing on Wednesday, September 21, 2010. She had reached the age of 88 years, two months, and eight days. She is survived by her husband, Bob Lee, of Las Vegas; her children: Barbara (Don) Larson of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Dick (Pat) Krebs of Appleton, Lee Krebs and Steve Krebs both of Las Vegas, and Jane Henshaw of Apex, North Carolina; grandchildren: Jacki (Mike) Donner of Phoenix, Arizona, Steven Larson of Cheyenne, Wyoming, David Larson of Casper, Wyoming, Marie Henshaw and Laura Henshaw both of Apex, North Carolina; great-grandsons: Kiel Golike of Schaumburg, Illinois and Reid Golike of Phoenix, Arizona; stepdaughter, Nancy (Ed) Bentzen of Arvada, Colorado; nieces and nephews: Rolf Arneson and Carl Arneson both of Henderson, Nevada, Jay Graybill, Teri Jones, Meri Teich, Cori Frankenfield, and Lori West. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob Krebs, in 1979; sister-in-law, Ruth Arneson and brother-in-law, Rolf Arneson; her brother, Johnny Graybill and sister-in-law, Dolly Graybill, who were killed in a plane crash in Alaska one month ago; and stepdaughter, Debra Lee.
