Rita Lenore Boyle Lundgren was born March 11, 1927, in De Graff, Swift County, MN, to James and Rose Boyle. Rita was baptized as a Roman Catholic and confirmed at the Church of St. Bridget Catholic Church in De Graff. She attended Benson High School in Benson, MN, and attended St. Cloud State Teachers College (now St. Cloud State University, MN). She also took classes at the University of Minnesota and Adelphi College (now Adelphi University, New York.) Rita taught school in Clinton, MN, Fergus Falls, MN, South St. Paul, MN, Watertown, SD, and Sioux Falls, SD. On June 23, 1951, she married Roger Dean Lundgren of Minneapolis, MN, and enjoyed a forty-eight-year marriage until his death on September 22, 1999.
Rita loved teaching and enjoyed her time with her students but left the teaching profession to raise a family. After her children became self-sufficient, she entered the world of sales and found to her amazement that she loved and excelled in the profession, where she specialized in commercial audio-visual equipment sales, retail sales, and Grand Ole Opry timeshares (she loved meeting many country-music stars).
During Rita and Roger’s retirement years, they moved to Duluth, MN, to be near to their son’s (James) family. Shortly after Roger’s death, Rita moved to Denver, CO, to be near her youngest daughter’s (Kimberly) family.
Rita was a woman of strong faith and a devout Catholic. Her favorite trip was a visit her ancestors’ country, Ireland. She enjoyed following the theatrical productions and sporting events of her grandchildren who excelled in acting, basketball, hockey, and tennis as well as following the professional football teams of the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings. She also enjoyed playing golf.
Rita passed on January 24, 2023, in Denver, CO, at the age of 95. She is survived by her four children: Kaye Lundgren, James Lundgren (wife Annette Sangren Lundgren), Kellie Lundgren Wilkins (husband Michael Wilkins), and Kimberly Lundgren Siegel (husband Bernard Siegel); four grandchildren: Ashley Lundgren Trulson, Dan Lundgren, Hannah Siegel, and Carl Siegel; two great granddaughters: Dakoda Trulson, Kylie Trulson; and nieces and nephews: Donna Lynch Bays, Mary Pat Lynch Sadlowski, Jim Lynch, John Lynch, David Compton, Casey Compton, and John Lundgren. Rita is preceded in death by her parents James and Rose and her sisters Marie Boyle Lynch and Rose Boyle Compton. Rita will be interred with her husband, Roger, in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.
A brief service will be held at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery (TBD). To honor Rita’s charity of choice, we ask that all who wish to and have Minnesota connections donate to St. Luke’s Hospice Duluth, St. Luke’s Hillside Center, 220 North 6th Avenue East, Duluth, MN, 55805.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Lundgren family.
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