Rita Plotnik

Rita F. Plotnik, age 84, of Willmar, died Monday morning, Dec. 23, at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27. at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Cemetery in Spicer.

Rita Frances Plotnik was born in Browerville, MN on March 29, 1935 Frank and Mary (Bonik) Plotnik, Sr.  She grew up in Browerville, attended St. Joseph's Grade School and graduated from Browerville High School in 1953. She attended St. Catherine University in St. Paul and majored in English and Communication.  Rita taught at Eveleth High School and St. Anthony Village High School until she retired. While teaching school, she spent summers traveling in Europe, Canada, & Alaska.  After retirement, Rita moved to Willmar to be near her brother, Frank and sister-in-law Donna. During May-September, Rita operated a small fishing camp on Lake Vermilion near Tower, Minnesota.  Rita was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willmar (October-May) and St. Martin's Catholic Church in Tower, MN (May-October).  Enjoying nature on Lake Vermilion and teaching were two of Rita's favorite pursuits.

She is survived by her brother, Frank (and Donna) Plotnik of Spicer; her sister, Agnes (and Gene) Geigenmiller of Seguin, TX.; sister-in-law, Sherry Plotnik (and Don Delorme) of Red Lake Falls; nephew, David (and Cori) Plotnik of Lakeville; nieces, Tammi (and Riad) Youssef of Houlton, WI., Paula Sherber of Duluth; Heidi (and Mel) Springer of Littleton, CO.; and many grandnephews and  grandnieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, James and one in infancy.