Velda Mae Rivenburg

December 30, 1932 - February 25, 2020

Celebration of Life Service for Velda Rivenburg, 87, will be Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 10:00 am in Waller Middle School Auditorium with Pastor Dan Thimell officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, Carrier. Visitation with the family will be Friday evening from 5:30 to 7:00pm in the Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel. Viewing on Saturday will only be prior to the service at Waller. Velda was born on the family farm on December 30, 1932 to Fred and Irene Moehle and died of natural causes on February 25, 2020 at her home in the same room she was born in. She went to the Vernon School, a one room schoolhouse, where she graduated 8th grade. Velda then attended and graduated from Lahoma High School. As a young girl, she worked as hard as any man on the farm, including helping her 2 sisters milk 25 cows -by hand- every day, twice a day! In her spare time, she enjoyed riding her favorite barrel horses: Candy and Slim. She was active member of the 4-H Club, showing sheep, horses, and won many 1st places in sewing and baking. Velda played basketball and was an all state guard. She also played 1st base on the softball team and was the clean up batter. Velda attended Tulsa University, where she played softball and basketball. She transferred to the University of Texas, majoring in Accounting and played tennis and was on the Equestrian Team. Velda was the bookkeeper and timekeeper of the Cherokee Strip Round Up Club. She barrel raced and won rodeo Queen Contests. Velda was also the leader of the Equestrian Square Dance Club. She was the secretary of the Rose Hill Cemetery for 25 years, Girl and Boy Scout leader for 10 years; 4-H leader for her local and the County Horse Club. Velda was a member of Enid Riffle Club. She was the head secretary and bookkeeper for OTASCO in Fort Smith, Arkansas and Enid. Velda was a volunteer for the Enid Public Schools, starting in 1965, working at both Glenwood and Waller, then became a Para Professional for special needs class room until her retirement in 2019. She served as a crossing guard for 40 years, working at Glenwood and Waller. As an infant, she was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church until her death. In her spare time Velda raised and showed Paint Horses, had a Short Horn cow/calf operation, sold farm fresh eggs (she gave away more than she sold) and she enjoyed gardening with her mother and daughter. She took in orphan babies, bobcats, racoons, skunks, squirrels, and rabbits. Late in her life Velda enjoyed attending all of her Grandson Nick’s soccer, football, and ice hockey games. She also loved going to all of Luca’s performances and hearing him sing at a variety of venues, both local and national. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Phyllis Ester. Velda is survived by her children, Bridget Ciliberti of Enid and Austin Rivenburg of Colorado Springs, Colorado; four grandchildren, Nicholas, Nathan, and Lucas Ciliberti, and Aslan Rivenburg; sister, Thelma Rackley of Texas; other relatives and friends. Memorials may be made through Anderson-Burris to Camp Barnabas Autism Camp or Parkwood Developmental Center for Autism, in honor of her Grandson Nathan.