Rita Mae Bruning, age 91 of Westbrook, passed away peacefully Thursday, October 7, 2021 surrounded by her family at Westbrook Good Samaritan Society.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, October 11, 2021 at Westbrook Funeral Home.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Monday.  Interment will be in the Westbrook Cemetery.  

Rita Mae Bruning was born May 12, 1930 to Christ and Evelyn (Spensley) Backus on the family farm near Jeffers, Minnesota.  She graduated from Westbrook High School in 1948.   On August 22, 1946, she was united in marriage to Floyd Bruning at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Currie.  The couple moved to Westbrook, where Rita stayed home to raise their family.  She was very active in St. Anthony Catholic Church, especially in Rosary Society.  Rita was a member of the VFW ladies auxiliary and also served as a Girl Scout leader at one time.  Rita enjoyed hosting and visiting friends and neighbors for coffee.  She also enjoyed going camping.  After Floyd retired, he and Rita were the host/ hostess at Lake Shetek State Park. 

Rita is survived by her children: Linda (Eugene) Nelsen of Albert Lea, Sandra (Gary) Adams of Mesa, AZ, and Chuck Bruning of Inwood, IA; son-in-law Roger Miller of Marshall; grandchildren: Jim (Bobbie) Daly, Buck (Christina) Nelsen, Robert (Phryne) Nelsen, Paul (Stacey) Solomonson, Matt (Tammy) Solomonson, Luke (Danielle) Miller, Alexis (James) Witte, Sara (Nick) Gavin, Nick Bruning, and Alex Bruning; a host of great and great great grandchildren; sisters: Leola Powell and Trudy Brown both of Columbia Heights; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Floyd, daughter Debra Miller, and two brothers, Nick and Clarence Backus.