On August 6, 2016, after courageously battling cancer for many years, Rhonda Rhodes of Littleton, Colo., passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side. She is now in Heaven and free from pain and suffering.
Rhonda Rhodes
Rhonda was born in Medford, Ore., on August 28, 1962, to Ron and Lois Rhodes. In 1971, Rhonda’s family moved to Sitka, where she attended school from fourth grade through high school, graduating with the class of 1980. Rhonda was very involved in school activities, including band and swimming, but her favorite activity was the Sitka High Drill Team.
She attended college for two years at Western Washington University and then moved on to the University of Arizona, where she graduated with a BA in business administration in 1984.
Rhonda’s avid love of traveling took her to many countries around the world. Her longest residence abroad was in Australia and New Zealand where she visited and worked for six months following her college graduation.
Aside from her travels, Rhonda was a savvy businesswoman. During high school she worked at MacDonald’s in the Work and Rugged Gear Store and upon her return from Australia, she managed the Bayview Trading Company Fish Store. She occasionally commercial fished with her dad and brother, but thought she was bad luck on the boat because it always broke down when she was aboard.
After needing to return to work after more than a decade of being a stay-at-home mother, Rhonda worked her way through the ranks of the CED Cable and Broadband Magazine to become the publisher in just five short years.
Rhonda’s zest for life was incredibly apparent the moment you met her. She glowed with a radiance that can be matched by few, and will be remembered by all who knew her. With a love for the outdoors, hunting and fishing, Rhonda made frequent visits to Sitka with her children to visit her mother and to show the kids Sitka, one of her favorite places.
She also made trips to Craig to visit her brother and yearly trips to Flat Head Lake in Montana to visit her sister. She lived her life by making the most of every day, and in doing so set an example for all of us, her family said.
Rhonda was predeceased by her father Ron; sister Sharon Ann; and her faithful pet Shit-Tzu Ricky.
She is survived by her mother, Lois Rhodes of Sitka; son Riley Barta of West Lafayette, Ind.; daughter Hadley Rhodes of Denver, Colo.; sister Kathy Rhodes Brauer and family of Missoula Mont.; brother Doug and family of Craig, Alaska; uncle Jim Johnson and family of Oro Valley, Ariz.; and aunt Dell Johnson and family of Petersburg.
A celebration of life service will be held in Sitka at a later date.