Rita Marie (Morgan) Austreng, 77, Superior, died Monday, April 30, 2007, in St. Francis in the Park Health and Rehabilitation Center.
The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Cathedral of Christ the King with the Rev. Daniel Dahlberg officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Greg Austreng, Dan Bloom Jr., Scott Bloom, Kevin Peterson, Kermit Thomas and Don Wallin.
Visitation begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Downs Funeral Home, Ogden Avenue and North 19th Street, with a wake service at 7 p.m.
Rita was born Sept. 20, 1929, in Superior to Leo and Milada Morgan. She was first employed at Minnesota Woolen, then Hammond Avenue Presbyterian Church as an administrative assistant.
ADVERTISEMENT
She was a member of Cathedral of Christ the King Church and its choir. Rita married Jay Austreng June 23, 1956, in St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Billings Park.
Surviving are her husband, Jay; a son, Morgan (Theresa) Austreng, Foxboro; a daughter, Gina (Dan) Bartlett, Superior; seven grandchildren, Darren, Joshua, Kaitlyn, Wyatt, Clayton, Gretchen and Scarlett; a brother, Arthur (Gracie) Morgan, Little Torch Key, Fla.; and a foster sister, Joan (Robert) Moen.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Laurence Morgan; and sister, Kathleen Morgan.
Rita loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed outdoor activities of all kinds including gardening, boating, camping and bird watching. She especially liked singing, particularly in the church choir at Cathedral and St. Patrick's. Rita had a warm personality, which drew many friendships and happy times. Rita and her husband, Jay, observed their 50th wedding anniversary last summer at a family gathering.
