Chester (Chet) Frank Rief, CDR USN (Ret.)

Chester (Chet) Frank Rief, CDR USN (Ret.), 92, of 2319 E. Doublegate Drive, Albany, GA died Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at his residence. A funeral mass will be conducted Friday at 10:00 A.M. at St. Teresa's Catholic Church. Rev. Finbarr Stanton will officiate. Interment will follow in Andersonville National Cemetery with military honors.

A native of Chaska, MN, CDR Rief was an alumnus of Chaska High School and the University of Minnesota. He was commissioned as a Naval officer in 1941, attended flight school at NAS Pensacola, FL and received his wings. He served both in the Pacific and European Theaters during World War II. CDR Rief was awarded five Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross and retired from the Navy in 1968.

CDR Rief moved to Albany, GA in 1966 and was the personnel manager at Firestone Tire and Rubber Company until his retirement in 1981. He was a member of St. Teresa’s Catholic Church, Doublegate Country Club and The Benevolent and Protective Order of The Elk. He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty five years, Lucille Smith Rief.

Survivors include his wife, Sara Jane Rief, of Albany, GA, a daughter and her husband, Katherine A. Rief, CAPT NC USN (Ret) and Robert Clarey CDR USN (Ret), of San Diego, CA, three sons, Robert Rief and his wife, Ellen, of San Diego, CA, Thomas (Tom) Rief and his wife, Theresa, of Albany, GA and Rocky Rief and his wife, Julie, of Sydney, Australia, two brothers, Dale Rief and his wife, Jane and Skipper Rief and his wife, Laura all of Chaska, MN , two sisters, Blanche Saul, of Denver, CO and Sister Grace Rief, of Chicago, IL, six grandchildren, Carrie, Allison, Katie, Lindsey, Murphy and Larkin and four great-grandchildren. Survivors also include step-children, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM at Mathews Funeral Home.

Those desiring may make contributions to St. Clair's Community Center or to St. Teresa's Neighbors in Need, 2005 Martin Luther King Blvd., Albany, GA, 31701.