Message from Rita’s Family

Rita Ann Spencer Koontz went to heaven to be with Jesus on September 15, 2018 after a quick, vigorous battle with bone cancer.

Rita was born in Troy, Idaho on September 2, 1947 to Clyde and Althea Spencer. Rita had 5 siblings. Her two older sisters, Louise Spencer Logsdon and Karen Spencer, both preceded her in death. She has two brothers, David Spencer and John Spencer, and a younger sister Katherine Spencer Burnham.

Rita was raised in Troy, Idaho and at 17 married Kenny Koontz whom she would often describe as the handsomest man she had ever seen. They were married on August 28, 1965 and beginning their married life which took them to North Carolina and Maine as her husband Kenny served in the Air Force. After the Air Force, Ken and Rita moved back to Moscow. They had three children who married fantastic partners: Laura Koontz Buno (Jey Buno), Andy Koontz (Jody Podrabsky Koontz) and Kendra Koontz Bizeau (Luke Bizeau). Ken & Rita have 9 grandchildren: Breann (18), Emma (15), Jeydan (13), Oakley (12), Levi (11), AJ (9), Blaze (9), Harper (8) and Sydney (8), who Rita loved with all her heart. Ken & Rita were glowing as they celebrated 50 years of marriage with their friends and family in 2015.

Rita spent her life in service to others and when you met Rita, you were a better person just for knowing her. She would have prepared a meal for you, cleaned for you, prayed for you or served you in some special way that was exactly what you needed at exactly that moment.

In 2016, after celebrating 42 years at the SESRC at WSU (Pullman), Rita retired, and she and Ken moved to Vancouver, WA to be near 6 of their grandchildren and both of their daughters. Most recently, Rita loved to travel with Ken by her side, beamed with pride as their son, Andy, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and enthusiastically enjoyed annual trips to New York City with her daughters, Laura and Kendra, and her daughter-in-law, Jody.

Rita lived life to the fullest and never held regret. She loved God, her family and her community. Rita’s kindness, strength of spirit, wisdom, and heart for serving will always be remembered by those who were lucky enough to know and love her.

Memorial services will be held at Moscow Church of the Nazarene at 11:00 am in Moscow, Idaho on Saturday, October 20th, 2018. In lieu of flowers and in loving memory, donations on Rita’s behalf can be made to The Hope Center, PO Box 8622, Moscow, ID 83843.