RAPID CITY - Rita Renae Hobart, 58, Rapid City, died peacefully in her home on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. She was born May 28, 1953, in Aberdeen, S.D., to Richard and Julie (Jessen) Rice. As a young girl, she lived with her family on a farm near Rockham, S.D. Later she moved to Redfield where she attended school. After a few years, she moved to Mitchell with her family where she continued school and graduated high school. While in high school, she played the flute and enjoyed glee club, choir and pep club. After graduating, she attended South Dakota State University in Brookings for one year. During college, she studied abroad in Germany for a period of time; she said this was one of the most memorable times of her life. On Oct. 6, 1973, she married Steven Michael Hobart in Rapid City. They lived on a ranch near Deerfield where she enjoyed hunting, gardening and playing with her children. While raising their five children, she attended Black Hills State University and graduated in 1988 with a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. She has taught as a special education teacher at New Underwood School and most recently at Central High School. She was a loving mother, grandmother, wife, daughter and sister who loved the Black Hills. She loved music, worship and prayer, devoting herself to God, family and friends. She was also an active member of the Dove Christian Center for over 10 years. Survivors include three sons, Scott Hobart, Washington, Ill., Nick Hobart, Hill City, and Mike Hobart, Custer; two daughters, Tiffany Johnson, Tokyo, Japan, and Michele Sabino, Aurora, Ill.; her father, Richard Rice, Wessington Springs; her mother, Julie Rice, Oakdale, Minn.; two brothers, Russell Rice, Rapid City, and Rodney Rice, Custer; a sister, Rochelle Rasmussen, St. Paul, Minn.; and seven grandchildren. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be from 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Dove Christian Center, with the Rev. Tim Stuen officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Hill City Cemetery. A memorial has been established.