Rita Leinen

Rita W. Leinen, 89, Breckenridge, MN, died Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge, MN. The Funeral Mass will be Saturday, 10:30 a.m. at St. Marya�(TM)s Catholic Church, Breckenridge, MN. Visitation will be Friday, from 5 PM to 8 PM with a 5 PM Forestera�(TM)s Rosary and a 7 PM Prayer Vigil at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. also at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Wahpeton, in the spring.

Rita was born June 12, 1921, near Mantador, ND, the daughter of Henry J. and Theresa Marie (Krump) Pausch. She attended school in Barney Township thru the 8th grade. She worked for families in Wahpeton doing housework and child care. Rita was united in marriage to Raymond F. Leinen on June 15, 1938, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Mantador, ND. The couple made their home at rural Wahpeton, ND and later purchased a farm south of Breckenridge, MN, in 1947, where they farmed and raised their children. They moved to Wahpeton in 1975, Ray passed away May 18, 1976. Rita continued to live in Wahpeton where she did volunteer work at the St. Francis Hospital until 2008. She recently entered St. Francis Nursing Home in Breckenridge.

Rita was a member of St. Marya�(TM)s Catholic Church, Breckenridge and St. Genevievea�(TM)s Court of the Foresters. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, yard work, canning. She always treasured her time with her family, especially her grandchildren and their children.

Rita is survived by her daughter, Karen Marie (Perry) Engstrom, Wahpeton, ND; her son, Ronald (Sharon) Leinen, Breckenridge, MN; 9 grandchildren, 8 step grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 16 step great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews, her brother, Donald (Margaret) Pausch, Wahpeton, ND; her daughter-in-law, Ila Leinen, Wahpeton; her brother-in-law, Jim Thiel, Tacoma, WA; two sisters-in-law, Alice Pausch, Breckenridge, MN; and Kathy Pausch, Wahpeton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Raymond; her son, Raymond Henry Leinen Jr.; 2 sisters, Elizabeth Leinen, JoAnn thiel, and three brothers, Virgil Pausch, Gerald Pausch and Harold Pausch.