Sister Marita Rother, ASC, celebrated 70 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at the Wichita Center in Wichita, KS. Sister Marita made her first profession on July 1, 1955, and her final vows on July 1, 1960. She marked her anniversary with the Eucharistic celebration and a festive dinner with the ASC community.
Sister Marita was born in Okarche, OK, to Franz and Gertrude Rother. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from Sacred Heart College, now Newman University, in 1962, and her master’s in Education Administration from the University of Wichita in 1968.
Her broad experience of teaching included elementary, secondary, and university levels. Elementary schools included St. Mary in David City, NE; All Saints, St. Anne, and St. Margaret Mary in Wichita; St. Joseph in Ost, Sacred Heart in Dodge City, all in KS; Corpus Christi in Oklahoma City, Holy Trinity in Okarche, both in OK. When the Archdiocese of Oklahoma needed a math teacher who could also teach algebra, Sister Marita became a traveling teacher, dividing her time among SS. Peter and Paul in Kingfisher, St. John’s in Yukon and Holy Trinity in Okarche. In addition to teaching math, she was often principal. On the secondary level she taught at Sacred Heart Academy, Madonna, and Bishop Carrol High Schools in Wichita, and McGuinness in Oklahoma City. In addition to serving as Assistant, then Director, of Elementary Education for Newman University; she also taught an eight-week course for the University. Other administrative duties included being Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Dodge City, and Associate Superintendent for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
She was a member of the Novitiate Community and was also responsible for mentoring high school girls who planned to become sisters.
Following her 10 years as an administrator and over 45 years as a classroom teacher, she continued her education ministry as a tutor and aide at St. Anne, and St. Joseph schools in Wichita. She is currently Living Mission in Later Life at the Wichita Center.