DODGE CITY – Rita Russell, 77, died December 9, 2016 surrounded by her children at Trinity Manor, Dodge City. She was born on September 13, 1939 at Dixon, Illinois, the daughter of Laverne and Marie Agnes (Kent) Emmert.Rita was from Illinois and has lived in Dodge City for the past 7 years.Rita enjoyed making arts and crafts, making dolls, doing jigsaw puzzles with her grandchildren, baking, drinking her coffee and loved being around children. She was a seamstress and she also worked in the nursing field.On February 14, 1963 she married Kendall Russell at Rock Falls, Illinois. He passed away on June 27, 2007.She is survived by 13 children, Norma Jean Brown and husband Ron, Sharee Lanning and husband Leonard, Theresa Emmert, Charles Russell and wife, Connie, Patricia Bear-Stark and companion Laurie Stark, Sally Jo Bachand and husband Jay, Victor Russell and wife Tina, Chuck Drake and wife Ash-Leigh, Gena Meyo and husband Norberto, Gary Emmert and wife Jennifer, Tasha Corbin and husband David Jr., Latrissa (Jean) Facio and husband Enrique and Latisha (Jane) Reinhart and husband Lucas; 2 brothers, Gary and Gene Emmert; 2 sisters, Judy Emmert and Theresa Willett; 55 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild.She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; 2 brothers, Kent McGonigle and Robert Emmert; 2 sisters, Shirley Modler and Patricia M Benkitits; 4 grandchildren.Memorial Services at a later date will be held in Dixon, Illinois. There will be no public viewing cremation has taken place.The family suggests memorials to the Rita Russell memorial fund in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801. Condolences may be sent to www.zieglerfuneralchapel.com.