Rita Van Dorpe

About Rita

Rita Teresa (Stassen) Van Dorpe got her heavenly wings and joined our Lord on Sunday, October 24, 2021. Rita was born in Ghent, MN, to Joseph and Mary (Boerboom) Stassen on March 17, 1925. She married Edward Van Dorpe on October 15, 1947. They moved to a farm outside Ghent where together they raised five children. Rita was an active member of both the American Legion Auxiliary and St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. In 1971, they moved to Minneota, where Rita became head cook at the Minneota Public High School. She loved her high school Vikings teams, and attended games in person or cheered on the teams while listening to the radio. Rita was very involved at St. Edward Catholic Church, and her faith and church community were an important part of her life. Rita was a member of the Minneota Senior Center and volunteered her time there often.

The couple enjoyed 68 years of marriage before Ed's passing. Rita worked on the farm, enjoyed gardening, golfing, sewing, and dancing, but was most remembered as a great cook and baker. She and Ed shared many happy years in Arizona during the winter months where they made friends from around the country and Canada. Rita died at the Minneota Manor Nursing Home in Minneota.

She is survived by daughters Delores Scott of Jacksonville, FL, Diane (Ray) Klotz of Brooklyn Park, and Catherine (Jon) Willette of Mankato, and son Richard (MaryKay) of Colorado Springs, CO; son-in-law Richard Verthein; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law Louise Stassen and Beverly Stassen. Rita was preceded in death by her husband Edward, daughter Barbara Verthein, sisters Teresa Kerkvliet and Helen Clark, brothers Lawrence, Eugene, and Clarence Stassen, sister-in-law Marie Andries, and brothers-in-law Lou & Hank Van Dorpe.

On Tuesday, October 26, 2021, Rita's son-in-law, Carl Scott of Florida, joined her in heaven.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to St. Edward Catholic Church or St. Edward Catholic School.

memorial service

Mass of Christian Burial

November 5, 2021

St. Edward Catholic Church 201 W 4th St, Minneota, MN 56264, USA

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Horvath Funeral Service