She went to Lincoln High school where she excelled in academics and volleyball and basketball. She also played summer fastpitch softball for teams Illusions, SPF, and others over a 20 yr period from places where they lived in Lincoln, Chicago, Frederick, St. Louis, and Bartlesville. Rhonda had a 2 yr academic scholarship to UNL where she majored in Business while she worked part-time for Pepsi Bottling Co. which really sparked her interest in accounting. Rhonda also took tickets at the Douglas 3 Cinemas which was another love of hers-movies.
When her scholarship was up, she became a flight attendant with American Airlines where she had met a lot of famous folks like Chris Farley, Bill Murray, David Spade, and Charlie Pride. She had a love of travel from all the years with the airlines. Her favorite place was Maui!
She graduated from Webster Univ with a degree in accounting while they were living in St. Louis. She was an all-conference softball player and on the basketball team at Webster Univ. She had an opportunity to play with the Colorado Silver Bullets (women’s baseball league inspired by the movie A League of their Own) but opted to go with the sure thing as a CPA with Arthur Andersen.
In 1999, Rhonda and Randy moved to Bartlesville Oklahoma, where Rhonda always use to say that they were adopted by Jack and Carolyn McKain, the best friends in the world!!! Rhonda then was a CPA with Ernst & Young where she eventually became the manager of the audit of Conoco Phillips.
Both Brooke and Carsten were born at Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville! From the time both kids were born until last Friday, Rhonda spent most of her time doing and thinking about things that she could do for her family! Rhonda homeschooled Carsten for a number of years. She coached both kids in basketball, Brooke’s club volleyball team and softball teams, Jr high teams at Wesleyan Christian. For a number of years Rhonda coached the Varsity Volleyball teams at Wesleyan Christian.
Rhonda also loved to golf at Hillcrest CC, where she was a member of the women’s golf association.
Since the start of Covid and the loss of both of her parents and the major back surgery that she had, Rhonda had spent most of her time at their Lincoln, NE home.
Rhonda was a 22 year member of Redeemer Lutheran in Bartlesville but had really enjoyed going to services at her families church Christ Lincoln where she had been baptized, confirmed, and married.
Rhonda leaves behind her kids Brooke and Carsten and Randy her husband of 31 years, and 12-year-old yellow lab “Sugar”. Brothers, Dean and Deb Carstens, Jeff and Donna Carstens, Sister and best friend, Kathi and Jim Foster. Her In laws Larry and Eleanor Bluhm, Brother-in-law Craig and Mary Beth Bluhm. Aunt, Jan Buss, Uncle Gerald Buss. Cousins Scott and Sherry Sohl, Sherry Buss, Stacey Sullivan, and Robbie Buss. Nieces and Nephews, Mitch, Kirsten, Tara, Sam, Cody, Xander, and Jenna.
Rhonda was a Husker volleyball and football fan, Southeast Football and Track fan and loved the Boston Celtics! When she wasn’t looking over Carsten’s homework Rhonda was always reading a book!
We are devastated that Rhonda has left us behind but take great comfort that she is walking with our lord Jesus Christ, and we are just overwhelmed with the love and prayers that have come from our family and friends from all over especially from our hometowns of Lincoln and Bartlesville!
Funeral Service: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 22, 2022, Christ Lincoln Church 4325 Sumner Street.
Visitation from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 ‘O’ Street.
Memorials to Team Jack Foundation or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.