Rita Ann Rajdl, 75, Villard, MN, passed away Sunday, December 13, 2015, at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND, with family by her side. The Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 18, 2015, at St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church, Villard, MN. Visitation will be Thursday, December 17, from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home, Glenwood, MN, and visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Villard, MN, following Mass.

Rita was born June 28, 1940, in Avoca, MN, to James and Mary (Mensen) Kinney. Her family later moved to Glenwood, MN, where she graduated from Glenwood High School. She was united in marriage to Harlan Rajdl on August 26, 1958. They "danced" through 57 happy years together. They lived and farmed by Villard where they raised their five children. Rita was a devoted wife and mother spending countless hours in her kitchen baking, cooking, or "reading" cookbooks looking for new recipes. She had collections of elephants and playing cards.

Rita's other handiwork included crocheted hangers, baby afghans and graduation afghans for each grandchild, and several cross-stitched prints, including cross-stitching the altar frontals for her church. She also enjoyed working for several years as a home-health aide.

Rita was a lifelong member of St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church in Villard, and also served as an extra-ordinary minister. She was a member of Christian Mother's, American Legion Auxiliary, a homemaker's group, and Red Hat Society. For several years, she and Harlan were part of a "supper club" and the Heartland Polka Swingers group. They often entertained in their home and enjoyed playing cards. Rita was able to enjoy a few special trips in her lifetime, traveling to Hawaii, Mexico, Ireland and Arizona. Rita's final act of kindness was to give the gift of sight through the donation of her corneas.

Rita is survived by her husband Harlan of Villard, MN; three sons, Dwight (Kim) Rajdl of Harris, MN, Dale Rajdl of Forest Lake, MN, and John (Julie) Rajdl of Garretson, SD; one daughter, Veronica (Earl) Myhre of Wahpeton, ND; a daughter-in-law, Dottie Rajdl of Glenwood, MN; 14 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; four brothers, James (Alice) Kinney, Brother Sylvester Kinney, Vincent (Jean) Kinney, Joseph (Carolyn) Kinney; and two sisters, Catherine Fuchs and Leona Finken; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Wallace; two grandsons, Nicholas Myhre and Benjamin Rajdl; three brothers, Patrick, Clayton and Tom Kinney; and one sister, Rosemary O'Connell.