The Ritter family was hit with a double loss this summer; first our mom passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s on July 27 and then we lost our brother and uncle Sam Ritter on Aug. 3.

Since then we have been overwhelmed with love, support, beautiful flowers, cards, phone calls, donations made in Ida and Sam’s names and so much more. Weeks’ Funeral Home of Enumclaw has been an amazing support system for us. They have been only a phone call away, day or night, helping with arrangements for Mom and for Sam’s viewing and celebration of life. They were a blessing to us.

V2 Farms, owned and operated by Andy and Jenny Cunningham, provided their amazing events barn and fields for Sam’s celebration of life. We estimated between 600 and 700 people attend Sam’s big day. From parking to the setup and cleanup, Andy was always there to help us.

Olson’s Meats did a wonderful job, donating all of the 350-plus pounds of pulled pork, roast beef and meat and cheese trays. The Olson family is an awesome group of people who also knew Sam.

Dave Hauge stepped in, helping with the setup and cleanup and made sure that the kitchen was running smoothly so the Ritter family could visit.

Thanks you to the crew who spent days getting Sam’s cars running so that they could be brought to the party. They resurrected many, many great memories.

To all who came and brought tons of food, good company, great pictures and good old stories, a huge thank you to you all as well. To see people we haven’t seen for 30-plus years and all for Sam was an amazing and heartfelt feeling. Thank you to any and everyone who came and helped make this event a “party” to remember in memory of Sam. And to those who couldn’t make it yet sent their love, thank you. Sam was looking down and definitely giving us all a big grin of approval.

If you left a glass dish, pan or bowl at the celebration, please contact Sami Ritter at 253-350-8085.

You can visit Sam’s blogspot and view his slideshow and leave a message for the family at www.rememberingsamritter.blogspot.com.

The extended

Ritter family