Rita Marie Cheney-Hunton, 94, of Angora, MN passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, July 24, 2023.

Rita was born May 2, 1929 in Waite Park, Minnesota at the family home to Eli and Stella Spychalla. She was born in the year of our great depression where jobs were none and money was scarce. Rita was just over three years old when she moved to Angora, Minnesota with her father Eli in 1933. Her father secured a job in the quarry mines in Angora, and while her father was working, Rita stayed with her uncle Joe and aunt Anna. The rest of the family moved later to join them.

Rita loved the outdoors and didn't mind cleaning the barn, milking the cows, churning the butter, and cutting and securing the hay in the hayloft. Rita was a young woman of strength and character who also loved theatrics and music. In 1949, she met and fell in love with Lloyd Cheney, and they married September 30, 1950 and had six children: Michael, Patrick, Christopher, Lori, Mark and Lloyd. On August 4, 1975, Lloyd passed away. In 1978 Rita once again found love and married Vern Cheney which ended 10 short years later. Rita was vacationing with her sister Gen Bodin in South Padre Island and was introduced to Herbert Hunton. Herb was an avid fisherman and honored Marine Corps soldier of 23 years. Herb and Rita fell in love and married in 2004. Herb passed away September of 2018.

Rita loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she knew how to make them and everyone she met feel special. She was a very religions person and loved the church. There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't thank God for everything and reminded all the children to do the same. Rita enjoyed playing cribbage, smear (especially in the deer camps) and Chinese checkers. Rita loved the outdoors and hunting deer, elk and buffalo. She was a long-time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the CCW of St. Mary's Church and a member of the Moose Club

Rita was preceded in death by her parents: Eli and Stella Spychalla; seven siblings: Renay, Angie, Arlene, Leonard, Ralph, Gene, and Glen; first husband Lloyd, second Husband Vern, and third husband Herb; sons: Michael and Patrick Cheney.

Rita will be dearly missed by her sister Gen Bodin; sons: Christopher (Carol) Cheney, Mark (Jean) Cheney, Lloyd (Terri) Cheney; and daughter Lori (Bob) Marana; grandchildren: Michael Cheney, Liz (Dan) Thom, Rachel (Shawn) Hendricks, Vicki (Gray) Gilley, Zac (Mitzi) Cheney, Patrick Cheney, Reba (Dan) Copeland, Joseph (Danica) Marana, Colton Cheney, Max (Ashley) Cheney, Bruno (Rachel) Cheney, and Sarah Balstad; great-grandchildren: Kate and Luke Cheney; DJ, Braydon, Elianna, and Caleb Thom; Libby, Jackson, Josie, and Cody Hendricks; Oriah, Deeken and Leah Gilley; Belle Copeland; Merritt, Will, Henley, and Hallie Marana; Danica Gasperlin; and Juniper Cheney; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11:00am at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Cook, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.