Rita L. Morgan

Elmore Rita Louise Morgan of Elmore, died early Sunday morning March 1, 2015 with her children at her side after she succumbed to lung cancer. She was a long time resident of her community where she supported her late husband Dr. Patrick J. Morgan in his private dental practice for 35 years.

Rita was the fourth of five children born to Martin and Louisa Mathiowetz. She grew up alongside the Cottonwood River in Leavenworth, where her parents operated a tavern and store and founded Mathiowetz Construction Company.

Rita attended St. Mary’s High School in Sleepy Eye and after graduating entered nurses training in Mankato. Thereafter she worked as a surgery nurse at Miller Hospital in St. Paul and during this time met a handsome bachelor dentist on a blind date.

She was married to Patrick J. Morgan on Aug. 7, 1965 and with him raised three children, Paul, Maria, and Daniel. She was active in SS. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church and Women’s Circle, supported the Elmore Public School, and helped to found and establish Minn-Iowa Golf Club.

Rita spent her life making ordinary moments special, and bringing her creative flair to any task at hand. She was an avid cheerleader of a good cause, a dedicated wife, a loyal friend, a committed mother and grandma, a tree and flower lover, an avid re-purposer and re-cycler. Rita never knew a stranger. She appreciated a job well done and loved to tell a story.

Towards the end of her life, Rita reflected that her obituary would be short as she had not accomplished much. To those who knew her, though, she was a giant of personality and a master of doing small things with great love. She leaves a lasting legacy of influence on those who knew her.

She is survived by her children, Dr. Paul (Dr. Rita Miller) Morgan, Maria (Jamin) Marks, and Daniel (Natalie) Morgan; and her grandchildren Mary, Megan, Patrick Morgan, and Aidan and Owen Marks; her brother Reinhold (Connie) Mathiowetz; her sister Rosemary (James) Rathman; her sister-in-law Mary Lou Mathiowetz.

Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Patrick J. Morgan, her parents, Martin and Louisa Mathiowetz, her brothers Richard, Roman, and half-brother Rudy.

Mass of Christian burial took place on Friday, March 6, at SS. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, the Rev. Peter Klein was the Celebrant. Burial followed on Saturday, March 7, at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs Cemetery in Leavenworth.

Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com