Louise Muntz Rider, 95, a lifelong resident of Van Buren County, passed away on Sunday August 23, 2026 at the Montrose Health Center.
Louise was born a twin to Frank and Zoe Swift Muntz on November 17, 1930, on the family farm near Flat Rock west of Farmington. She had fond memories of growing up with her older brothers and twin sister, Elouise. She attended White Oak Country School and graduated from Farmington High School in 1948. She worked at the Bonaparte Glove factory until her marriage to Thomas Rider on January 13, 1952.
She raised seven children and devoted her life to her family and farming with her husband and son, Mike. She continued to keep the farm books until the age of 90, when she moved to assisted living in Fort Madison. She loved music, dancing, and traveling throughout the U.S. and England. She and Tom performed duets every year at the Farmington Jamboree. She was a 74-year member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and its Altar and Rosary Society. In later years she volunteered for the Farmington Food Pantry and enjoyed her friends at the Farmington Senior Center. She was sustained by her faith in God through many trials in life, particularly the 20 years following the passing of her husband, Tom, in 2006.
She leaves 7 children to mourn her passing: Marilyn (Tom) Polito, Mike (Sherri) Rider, Janet (Tim) Jury, Linda Annegers, Lisa Moore, Jay (Pamela) Rider, LeAnn (Randy) Hildreth, 19 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brothers Kenneth, Elwin “Bus”, Harold and Keith Muntz; sisters Josephine Muntz, Elsie Bowers and Elouise Syfert; sons-in-law Joe Annegers and Jim Moore; and great-grandson Isaac Vicker.
Visitation will begin at noon on Thursday at the Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington with the family receiving friends from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. There will be a Parish Rosary recited at 6:30 p.m.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Farmington with Fr. Dan Dorau as Celebrant.
Burial will follow in the Greenglade Cemetery in Farmington.
Memorials can be made to the St. Boniface Catholic Church Altar and Rosary Society or the Farmington Food Pantry.
Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements.