Billy G. Ritcha was born February 6, 1935, in Nickerson, Kansas. He was the third child of Olin E. and Pearl L. (Boyer) Ritcha. On September 14, 1956, he married Janet F. McGonigle. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage before she passed away on January 4, 2020. Bill died October 7, 2026, after receiving excellent care at Schowalter Villa, Hesston, Kansas.

Bill was a graduate of Reno Community High School (Nickerson), Hutchinson Junior College, and obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Emporia State Teachers College. While at Reno Community High School and Hutchinson Junior College, he participated in football, basketball and track and field.

Bill did many things including being an athlete, teacher, National Guard member, coach, first aid instructor, Scout leader and school administrator. He served as elementary school principal at Burrton, Pretty Prairie and Geneseo, Kansas. Bill was also active in Lions Club and his church. When time allowed during summers he helped farm, did carpentry work, camped and loved fishing.

Bill and Janet enjoyed traveling. His family had many pictures taken at the “Welcome to “Name of State” sign while growing up. After retiring, and when not fishing, they delivered buses throughout the United States for Collins Industries and El Dorado National.

Surviving family members include his brother, Norman; children, Tamise (Kerry) Schwan and Tod (Cindy) Ritcha; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Mitzi) Ritcha, Brandon (Madison) Ritcha, Michelle Ritcha, Matthew Schwan, Rene (Aaron) Duell; and 16 great-grandchildren, Brooklynn, Manhattan, Dayton, Malia, Gunner, Alexavier, Bodhi, Sebastian, Kamila, Waylon, Reagan, Aiden, Holly, Alister, Felicity and Lydia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister Virginia, brothers Eldon and Don.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on October 12, 2026 at Elliott Mortuary. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may call from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, with the family present from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary.

Click here to view Bill's Celebration of Life Service.

Memorials are suggested to Trinity United Methodist Church, Schowalter Villa or Salthawk Community Support, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main St., Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Bill loved children. He and Janet especially loved their family. It was extremely rare for them to miss any family sports or music event. As a fixture at these events, they frequently stood in as surrogate grandparents for their grandchildren’s friends and teammates. Even in his last days, Bill would ask about the outcome of his great-grandchildren’s sporting events.

Bill touched many lives. If he touched yours, we just ask that you make someone else’s day better.