Rita Marilyn Mallahan

Rita Marilyn Mallahan passed away on January 12, 2026 in Bellingham with family by her side. Rita was born July 7, 1936 to Swiss immigrant, Martin Steiner and Elizabeth (Dilly) Steiner. She was the third child, with eight other siblings in a very active household in La Conner, WA. Rita went to school in La Conner, WA where she served as a class officer for multiple years, was in the honor society, part of the yearbook staff, earned varsity letter(s) as a yell leader and a girls club officer. She also participated in many events including being the senior homecoming princess and a song leader, while also participating in the school play and both the Latin and pep clubs. After graduating with honors from La Conner High School, she moved to Bellingham with some encouragement from her sister Liz, and went to work as a nurse's aide at St. Joseph’s Hospital. There she shined and quickly won over the hearts of the nuns in charge. Little did she know that they were primed to introduce her to her husband of over 65 years, Bernard “Bunny” Mallahan. Rita and Bunny were married on May 5th, 1955. They had 7 children, 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Rita was creative and part of that creativity was her art. She entered and won an art contest that confirmed her talent, however with 3 young kids under the age of 5 she put her aspirations aside to care for the family. She was a remarkable homemaker, a perfectionist and liked to keep things in order. She was also creative in stretching a single-family income to make sure no one went without. Her dinner table often included neighbors and friends even when there wasn’t quite enough food to go around. She was famous for how she could stretch a pound of hamburger, to feed all. She volunteered for all her kids' classrooms as the “room mother” and the class that year always enjoyed trips to the Mallahan home to make homemade donuts and other delicious treats as Rita was a talented baker. Rita went to all her kids' sporting events, plays, and other activities and still managed to volunteer at the Assumption Church, running the kitchen for weddings and events. Rita helped to raise many of her 11 grandchildren and along with Bunny they played the stair game, played with chalk, took field trips to Cornwall Park, visited the public library and would chase the trains. Rita never lost her creative side; she pursued calligraphy, painting, decoupage, and in her later years (after caring for Bunny), she drew with charcoal pencils and colored pencils to create artwork for her family. Rita loved birds and flowers. She enjoyed watching the eagles in the Skagit Valley and the snow geese and swans, amazed by the numbers. She so enjoyed looking at the dahlia garden that her sister Margaret grows in the summer. She also loved to play cards and yahtzee and would wait for a witness to show that she won a game of solitaire - holding out her hands and saying “tada”. Rita was strong willed, determined, independent, and some would say a little feisty. We will miss her dearly. Rita is survived by her siblings, John (Juanita) Steiner of Marysville, Clayton (Lottie) Steiner, Daryl (Carol) Steiner, and Margaret (Steve) Bruffy, her 7 children - John Mallahan, Tammy Wood, Steve Mallahan, Dennis (Bev) Mallahan, Mary (David) Bazard, Vince (Darla) Mallahan and Emily Mallahan, her grandchildren; Dane (Alicia) Mallahan, Justine Mallahan, Jennifer Mallahan,

Stephanie Mallahan, Tiffany (Daniel) Schober, Trisha (TJ) Foster, Taylor (Michael) Mayton, Piper Bazard, Madii (Ava) Bazard-Tramblie, Coleman Brummel & Katie Mallahan and 3 great grandchildren Dallas, Rylee and Kasen Foster. A Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 413 Douglas Street, La Conner, WA 98257 on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 11am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Whatcom Hospice Foundation, Hospice of the Northwest in the Skagit Valley or plant a tree or perennial in her honor.