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| Splash photo by Sarah Robertson |
David and Rita Redtfeldt, shown here with their dogs Princess and Daisy, taught in several different countries before retiring to Liberty Lake in 2002.
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In the June Fountain: Landing in LL from across the world; Give Back
5/28/2015 8:54:34 AM
Landing in LL from across the world
By Sarah Robertson
Splash Contributor
Of all the places in all the world, David and Rita Redtfeldt decided to retire in Liberty Lake. Having visited more than 30 countries, the Redtfeldts knew what they'd like and where they wanted to settle.
Though both are from the U.S., David and Rita met in a land far, far away - otherwise known as Iceland. But how is it that two people from the same country have to go all the way to Iceland to fall in love?
Both have agreed on the order of events as they exchanged smiles across their kitchen table. In 1968, David and Rita both taught at a U.S. naval base in Keflavik, Iceland. Rita remembered that she was teaching first grade, and David taught fourth grade at the time. David recalled being drawn to his wife "because of our mutual love of children."
"We took a trip to London as a school for Thanksgiving where we teamed up and palled around and had a wonderful time," David said.
The couple kept their courtship quiet for a time. But in 1969, the couple married in Earnest, Penn., which was Rita's home state.
David grew up in California and southern Oregon. He remembered his eighth grade teacher telling him he would be a teacher. David really wanted to be a roller derby skater and ended up going to college unsure of his career path. He soon realized that teaching was what he was truly meant to do.
At Southern Oregon College, David had a professor whose daughter was part of the Department of Defense teaching program. After teaching for two years in Oregon, David decided he wanted to travel as well. Iceland was his last choice of positions.
Iceland was Rita's last choice too. Rita was born in Punxsutawney, Penn., and earned her teaching degree from Indiana State Teachers College-which, ironically, is located in Pennsylvania.
Rita taught elementary school for four years in Pennsylvania. For some of that time, she was engaged to a man who was killed in Vietnam. Needing a change of pace and scenery, Rita decided to see some of the world and applied to the Department of Defense teaching program as well.
"Iceland was my last choice, but it turned out to be the best!" she said.
Iceland was a strategic location during the Cold War - a great place to monitor the North Sea - though not many people wanted to work there. David remembered it as a "very rugged country with no trees…and most of the population lived on the coast."
The Redtfeldts enjoyed their time in Iceland but decided to move on to Germany soon after marrying where they taught in Nuremburg on an army base. Their favorite part was the Christmas Market.
"We loved the whole atmosphere," Rita said. "It starts with the angel coming out of the church into the market square…We also liked the Gluvine (spice wine) and bratwurst."
In their short stay in Germany, the Redtfeldts visited between 30 and 35 countries. Neither is quite sure of the number, but they do remember traveling every holiday and every summer.
"We never saved anything. We put our money into trips," David said with a laugh.
The couple recalled family who feared that they had been kidnapped in Russia (during the Cold War) and a medical emergency during a rare snowstorm in Madrid during their most adventurous years.
While in Germany, the Redtfeldts welcomed their first child, Heidi, in 1971. With her birth, David and Rita decided to transfer to England.
They were excited to be a bit closer to home and raise their child in an English-speaking environment. Soon after they moved, Rita took some time off to spend with Heidi and they also welcomed a son, Christopher.
David worked at RAF Lakenheath in East Anglia near Cambridge. They bought a house straight away and never looked back. The Redtfeldts lived in England until 2002 when they retired and moved to Liberty Lake.
According to David, "We lived in the British community, got to know a lot British people, and had honorary grandparents that lived in our neighborhood. We loved getting to know the people."
"They are just incredibly loving welcoming people. We were the youngest in the neighborhood and they were the oldest. We definitely bonded with them right away."
It was also in England that David received his first Birman cat as a gift. It started a 30-plus year hobby raising cats for shows and eventually becoming a judge. David has traveled the country and the world as a judge.
In 1980, Rita returned to work and met a dear friend, Arlene Larsen. They have been friends for over 20 years, and Larsen helped the Redtfeldts decide to relocate to Liberty Lake after retirement.
"They visited a few times and decided this was the place to stay," Larsen said.
Larsen enjoys having the Redfeldts in town. Not only do they have the common bond of their overseas teaching experiences, but they also enjoy many of the same hobbies.
"We travel a lot together, and we do things together," Larsen said. "They're just really nice people."
The Redtfeldts are active members of the Liberty Lake Athletic Club, hardly ever missing a water aerobics class. David, also a former librarian, had "a little hand" in starting the Liberty Lake Municipal Library.
"I feel pleased to bring something so important to the city," he said.
The Redfeldts also took the title of "honorary grandparents" across the pond when they moved to Liberty Lake. Current neighbor, Tama Carter, recalled that when she and her family moved next door, "They were over as soon as we moved in."
Carter remembers asking Rita for baby advice when her girls were small and David making water playgrounds for them on the patio.
David and Rita love Liberty Lake, not only because it keeps them close to their children who have settled in Oregon.
"We love having our doctor, dentist, optometrist, pharmacist and everything in town…We have a great neighborhood to be part of," David said. "If you need help, you know you have neighbors to rely on."
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Fountain Profiles: David and Rita Redtfeldt
Ages
David, 71, and Rita, 72
Favorite Restaurant
Barlows at Liberty Lake
Places they frequent
Liberty Lake Athletic Club and Pavillion Park
Favorite Event
The Spokane Symphony performance at Pavillion Park
What they love about LL
"We love that it is very family oriented with lots of park activities. We enjoy walking and meeting the people. We also love going to plays."
• • •
GIVE BACK
Spotlighting timely needs
our community can meet together
To our friends and neighbors in the greater Spokane Valley:
Did you know that in 2014, 8,613 local families received clothing through the Spokane Valley Partners Clothing Bank? That number is even more incredible when you realize that the clothing bank is entirely volunteer-managed and operated.
Right now, those volunteers need help from the community, as supplies are low. While the Clothing Bank provides clothing, shoes, diapers, newborn layettes, personal care items and even small kitchen appliances or household items, there are two needs in particular to draw your attention to. These two needs aren't often met unless Spokane Valley Partners specifically draws attention to them:
1. Children's NEW underwear
Kids are always going through - and growing out of - underwear, and this is one of those rare areas where donated clothing should really be in new condition. Low-income families really struggle in this area, and our local kids should not have to be in a situation where they rely on ill-fitting underwear or have to go without.
The clothing bank currently has mostly empty racks in its men's section. Men's clothing of all kinds are in extremely short supply.
Most of the generous clothing donations that come in lack in these two critical areas. As a community, let's respond and help Spokane Valley Partners continue to meet the needs of local families in this area.
You can drop off donations to Spokane Valley Partners at 10814 E. Broadway Ave. or call 927-1153.
Sincerely,
The Arger Family
Investing in Spokane Valley since 1979
Local owners of Evergreen Fountains, sponsor of The Fountain senior spread in The Splash and The Current
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