Harriet 'Kippy' Rieder, 86, beloved wife of Robert Rieder and mother of four fortunate sons, passed away Friday, September 20, 2013 at Samaritan Bethany Nursing Home.  She died peacefully in the presence of her family.  Kippy was a wonderful spouse, friend and Mom.   She was the glue that kept her family close.

Kippy was born Easter Sunday morning April 17, 1927 in St Cloud, MN to Raymond and Eva (Hirt) Bruning.  She was baptized Harriet Ann Paschal Marie Bruning.  After graduating from St. Cloud Cathedral High School in 1945, she attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, where she received her B.S. in medical technology.

She then moved to Minneapolis where she was employed by University of Minnesota Hospitals.  At the U, her season tickets for football and basketball helped convince Bob to increase his courtship.  After their marriage on May 19, 1952 in St. Cloud, Bob and Kippy became lifelong Minnesota Golden Gopher fans.  Their allegiance was rewarded when the Gophers played in the 1997 Final Four, and they were able to attend.

Kippy and Bob moved from Minneapolis to River Falls, WI, and finally, to Rochester in 1957.  After several years as a homemaker, she began a 22 year career in the clinical laboratories at Mayo Clinic, retiring in 1989.

Kippy brought joy and energy to everyone she met.  She offered a loving, helping hand to all.  She was an active volunteer with Meals on Wheels, Resurrection Catholic Church, St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary and was past president of the Meadow Park Association.

Kippy loved to golf with her family and spent many summers in the Eastwood Ladies golf league with her friends.  She and Bob celebrated their 50 ^th Anniversary by attending the Masters in Augusta, GA in 2002.  They celebrated their 60 ^th Anniversary with a luncheon and family putting contest at Eastwood.

She is survived by her husband, Robert; sons, Mark (Coleen), Gary (Lu Ann), Joe (Jennifer) and Jeff (Tracie); ten grandchildren, Jason, Nick, Jenna, Claire, Katelyn, Will, Shane, Emelia, Molly and Benjamin; a brother, John (Pam) Bruning, and her many caregivers at Samaritan Bethany.  She was preceded in death by two sisters, Marie Murphy and Kathryn Hall; and a brother, Robert 'Bumpy' Bruning.

A Catholic memorial service is scheduled at 2:00 P.M. Monday, September 23 at River Park Chapel, Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, MN.  A private family burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery following the service.  Visitation will be at the chapel one hour before the service.

Memorials are preferred to Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Research.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com .