Rita Aabye

Rita Rae Olson Aabye, age 73, of Taylor, WI, peacefully passed away on January 13, 2026 at the Pine View Care Center in Black River Falls while under their loving care and that of the St. Croix Hospice Service. While surrounded by her family and friends. Rita's will was strong but her body was weak.

Rita was born on 12/17/1952 in the Black River Hospital to Herbert J. Olson and Eileen V (Halverson) Olson. In her first year of life, Rita was a traveler living in Taylor, Amery, Kellogg, Minnesota, then back to Taylor to make it essentially her life time home. Her family traveled in a trailer home with their father as he was a lineman for Dairyland Power Company electrifying Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota.

Rita lived nearly her whole life in the Community of Taylor. She attended Taylor Elementary, Junior and Senior high schools where she graduated in 1971. She worked in Eau Claire & Black River Falls in various assembly services before returning to Taylor to provide Child care & restaurant services and caring for others needs in her community. Rita was always ready to give a helping hand or a good laugh.

In 1988, Rita and Martin Aabye were joined in marriage and into that union their dearly loved daughter, Stephanie Beth, was born in 1989 while living in Black River Falls. Later Rita and Marty chose to go their separate ways. Rita and Stephanie returned to Taylor and joined the household of Eileen as Herb had passed away in 1984. Rita attended to the household while Eileen worked out side of the home and Stephanie happily grew up and went off to school, all in the support of a loving community. Rita was a proud mother and enjoyed watching her daughter become a wonderful mother with four bright and playful grandchildren.

Rita was known to always have a smile and a good joke ready for any occasion. Puns and quick comebacks were spontaneous or a surprise quote from Shakespeare. When her walking and bike riding were no longer safe; she resorted to her sturdy lawn chair in front of the house to greet all who passed by and often they found time to take the other chair for a chat.

She was a friend to all including their pets. While confined to her home, she thoroughly enjoyed her collections of memorabilia of the Packers, Elvis, Coca Cola, ceramic dolls, her Walmart's annual Christmas bears and coloring books while listening to her wide variety of genres of music or watching Wheel of Fortune, Matlock and other detective shows and Everybody Loves Raymond. Her cell phone stayed warm with her social contact, games and music. Her 'Christmas tree' was lit year around with the trimming of each annual holiday including Sjttende Mai and brought joy to her visitors and Pine Avenue traffic.

Rita was baptized in the Lutheran faith at the rural Pine Creek Lutheran Church and confirmed in the Taylor Lutheran Church where she remained an active and sincere member until her final prayer with her dear friend at her bedside.

Rita is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Rommel, and four grandchildren, Jeremy, Mesha, Harmony and Honor; two sisters, Connie (Tim)Relyea of Stoughton, WI and Becky Jankowski of The Colony, TX with 3 nieces and 3 nephews and 3 great nieces, Aunts Betty Simmons of LaCrosse and Kathy Halverson of Rome, WI & Ruth George of Taylor along with many Halverson & Olson cousins and friends.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents and her grandparents: Calmer and Alice (Erickson) Halverson and Ludwig Olson and Rebecca (Walsted) Olson and many cousins. Rita's family would like to thank the community of Taylor for their loving support, the Taylor Lutheran Church and Sarah Circle, Taylor Fire and Rescue for their years of strength, care and understanding, Foot Prints in Time for their awesome individualized healthcare, Marshfield Clinic for the wonderfully professional and coordinated care, Pine View Care Center Staff for the diligence and personal care, the compassionate care, support and direction of St Croix Hospice and the Krohn Clinic & Black River Hospital system for a LIFETIME of service. "It takes a village."

The funeral services for Rita will be at the Taylor Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 23, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday, January 22 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and again on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Burial will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery at a later date.

Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.