Monty Chris Riha

Monty Chris Riha, age 56, of Mankato, passed away July 31, 2021.

Visitation will be from 1-2 PM Saturday, August 7, 2021, followed by a memorial service at 2 PM at Hosanna Lutheran Church, 105 Hosanna Drive, Mankato, MN. Immediately following the service, friends are invited to gather to share a story at The Circle Inn, North Mankato.

To watch the service livestreamed, please visit https://hosannamain.online.church. To watch later, https://boxcast.tv/view/monty-riha-service-890031

Monty was born on August 30, 1964 to Stanley and Bette Riha in Winona, Minnesota. He graduated from Winnebago High School and received a BS in Communication from Bemidji State University. 

Monty had a well-known love of football. His football career in both Winnebago High School and BSU is well documented and often reminisced about. He took great joy in telling stories about his days as #28/44. 

Monty had two sons, Shane and Lucas, whom he shared with his former wife, Cathy Willette (VanDorpe). Nothing in his life was more important to Monty than his kids, and he treasured time spent with them. When his kids were young, he took them on a couple of trips to Canada for fishing and camping, to Akumal Mexico, and spent summers living on the Blue Earth River fishing, and Point Pleasant on Madison Lake tubing and skiing.

Some of Monty’s favorite times were spent with great friends doing anything from sailing the British Virgin Islands, to scuba diving, to grilling and beers in Rod’s Backyard Bar. Monty was known for his storytelling, his karaoke singing, joking, and laughing, and his love of a good debate. Simple things could make him really happy. Great weather and a beer, grilling steak on a charcoal grill, catching a big fish, the conversation around the fire, a Viking win, or time spent with friends and his kids. During his short life, he created an impression on those who met him, and he will be missed by friends and family. 

Monty is survived by his two children, Shane of Mankato and Lucas of Minneapolis; their mom, Cathy (Jonathan) of Mankato; his sister, Donna Thulson (Jeff) of Durango CO, and their children, Jessica Washburn (Dillon), Durango, CO, and Jon (Eliza), Chapel Hill, NC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley Riha and Bette Riha; and his niece, Kirsten Thulson.

Memorials can be sent to the family of Monty Riha, at 500 Cardinal Drive, Mankato, MN to help his children cover funeral costs.