Rheba Claudette Massey

To view the service via livestream, visit this link: https://youtube.com/live/h1g59UHT9GU?feature=share(https://youtube.com/live/hig59UHT9GU?feature=share )

Rheba Claudette (Russell) Massey, 78, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away on Good Friday April 18, 2025.

Rheba was born January 26, 1947 in Granville, Ohio to the late Joseph Columbus Russell and Claudia Mildred Huff Russell and raised in Norman, Oklahoma from the age of 5. She was a Boomer Sooner who attended the University of Oklahoma before having three sons and moving to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1971. She later completed her studies at Colorado State University receiving her Bachelor Degree in Social Sciences and then her Masters Degree in Historic Preservation.

Rheba is survived by her three sons Todd, Brent and Drew and spouse Steve Dinkel. Todd's family includes his wife Marie Massey and sons Travis, Wyatt and Maverick. Brent's family includes his wife Naoko and their children Minami, Kouhei, Toru, and Momoko. Drew's family includes his wife Julie and their children Breck and Brooke. Steve's family includes his three daughters Kim, Jeri-Ann and Marsha and his 6 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother Joseph Huff Russell, and survived by her nieces Kim, June, Joan and nephew Mac. And she is also survived by a wonderful group of lifelong friends that she has known for half a century here in Fort Collins as well as extended family and friends across the south.

Rheba was an avid lover of her family, friends, history, research, travel and Jesus. After securing her Masters Degree she became the leader of historic preservation for the State of Wyoming. She saved and helped preserve for generations many buildings and landmarks across the state and authored multiple National Registrations to successfully protect and register buildings and structures on the Register of National Historic Places, including the Dickinson Carnegie Library in Denver that her son Drew owned. And she also contributed to and authored books including "Historic Schools of Wyoming".

Rheba Massey then served as the Fort Collins Archivist at the Fort Collins Library from 1993 to 2007 where she conducted exhaustive research in newspapers and building records on Fort Collins architects, builders and pattern-book houses. Most importantly, she spearheaded the development of the Fort Collins Local History Archive working with the Library, Museum and Historic Fort Collins. Rheba received many awards from the Fort Collins Historical Society, including the President's Recognition Certificate (1991), the Society Recognition Award (2005) and the Life Membership Award (2007) for "past, present & future efforts in preserving the heritage of Fort Collins".

Rheba was an avid traveler. She loved to research her ancestry and then road trip across the United States visiting distant relatives and taking pictures of historic places and architecture. And she also loved travelling in Europe viewing the village gardens in France and Italy and walking the canals of Venice—one of her favorite cities. And then she'd often return home to show her friends slideshows of her journeys. She was always full of energy ready to go to any family or grandchild event, bible study, or have family drop in to listen to Andrea Bocelli and, always, get beaten by her at cards.

Her family is blessed that she gave them the gift of love, family, God, history, architecture and travel. And the blessings of her numerous life-long friends. Rheba was "Blessed" and Beloved.

A celebration of life will be held at Timberline Church (2908 S Timberline Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80525) on Sunday May 25, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. and her remains will be laid to rest at the IOOF Cemetery in Norman, OK this summer alongside her deceased parents, her brother and other family members.
A Live Stream will be available through Timberline Church: https://youtube.com/live/h1g59UHT9GU?feature+share