Obituary

Maureen (Canavan) Rittgers

Maureen (Canavan) Rittgers, longtime Gowrie area resident, passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2025 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa. She was born at St Joseph Mercy Hospital in Fort Dodge on November 21, 1936 to Patrick and Geraldine (Jack) Canavan. Maureen grew up on her family’s farm near Paton with her four siblings. She graduated from Paton High School in 1954 and attended Loretto Heights College in Denver, CO where she played on one of the first women’s college basketball teams. 

 In 1955 she married her husband Dick Rittgers and together they raised a busy family of five children on their family farm south of Gowrie. Maureen’s deep love for her family, farm, food, her Catholic faith, and Irish heritage was always evident. She was at her best when feeding family friends and farm workers, hosting nieces and nephews from Texas, California and Des Moines, and when attending the many music programs, sporting events, and extra-curricular activities her children and grandchildren participated in over the years. She took great pride in several Paton and Gowrie organizations and functions she was part of, always looking forward to time with her many friends in both communities. Maureen was a member of St John’s Catholic Church in Paton as well as Our Lady of Good Counsel in Moorland and St. Columbkille in Churdan, where she taught catechism for many years. For her entire life she was an avid reader; always looking for the next great historical book, biography or novel. Her love of reading was one of the many passions she passed on to her children. During their retirement years Maureen and Dick travelled extensively and enjoyed spending winters in Destin, Florida with the many friends they met at their condo. 

Maureen is survived by her children: Brian (Pat) Rittgers, Zionsville, Indiana, Veronica (Scott) Morton, Jefferson, Mark Rittgers, Gowrie, Rick (Jaci) Rittgers, Gowrie, and Chris (Gloria) Rittgers, Islamabad, Pakistan; 11 grandchildren, 10 plus great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Dick of 57 years, and siblings: Colleen Scanlon, Geraldine Duff, Jim Canavan and Pat Canavan. 

A visitation was held on Saturday, July 5 at St. Joseph Church in Jefferson from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., with Father William Schreiber officiating. A luncheon was served immediately following the service at the St. Joseph Parish Center. Interment took place immediately after the luncheon in the Gowrie Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Maureen’s name could be made to the Gowrie Public Library or the Gowrie Freedom Trail.

Edna Arlene Hintch

Edna Arlene Hintch, daughter of John Arthur and Edna (Berglund) Anderson, was born on a farm north of Harcourt on January 26, 1933. She passed away peacefully at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge on August 6, 2025, at the age of 92. 

Arlene was baptized and confirmed at Faith Lutheran Church in Harcourt, where she was a lifelong member. She attended schools in Harcourt where she graduated high school in 1950. She worked as a telephone operator after graduating. Later, she met and married Donald Hintch of Callendar, on June 8, 1952. 

Arlene was a homemaker, raising 4 children while working part-time jobs at Younkers and as a rural mail carrier. Then in 1973 she took a full-time position at the Harcourt Savings Bank until her retirement in 2000.

As a very active member of the Harcourt Community, Arlene was involved in the Alumni Association, Ladies Legion Auxillary, Community Club, as well as the Lutheran Brotherhood Council. At church she was a Sunday school teacher, choir member and financial officer. Working the Community Club concession stand for many years, she served the favorite “Harcourt Special” maidrite sandwiches. Her other hobbies and activities included gardening (weeding), baking (especially her Swedish rye bread), and card club. After losing her husband in a tragic plane crash near Harcourt, she developed an interest in traveling. Her first airplane trip was to Japan where she visited her son, Paul, and his family, as he was stationed there in the US Navy. She would return to Japan, as well as make a number of trips to Norway where she visited her daughter, Donna and her husband Andres. Aside from these overseas trips, she traveled widely throughout the United States. She was an avid fan of both the Iowa State Cyclone and the Iowa Hawkeye men’s and women’s sport teams. 

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings; including a sister, Marilyn Chase, brothers, Laurel Anderson and LuVerne Anderson, and her son-in-law, Andres Bakkerud. 

She is survived by her brother Vincent Anderson of Council Bluffs; daughters, Donna Bakkerud of Nesbyen, Norway and Linda Hintch of Ames; sons, Gary Hintch of Belleville, WI and Paul (Bella) Hintch of Jefferson City, MO; four grandchildren, Christopher, Kelsey, Jacob and Brittany (companion, Paul); and five great-grandchildren, Kya, Emry, Brayden, Mayson, and Aylee (due early October); and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Faith Lutheran Church in Harcourt with Pastor Rod Meyer officiating. Burial will follow in Lost Grove Township Cemetery. There will be a visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Laufersweiler Palmer & Sons Funeral Home in Gowrie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the Beacon of Hope in Fort Dodge or the Harcourt Community Club.

The family would like to thank the doctor, nurses, and staff at the Marian Home and Unity Point Hospice for their care, compassion, and support for Arlene.

Sandra “Sandy” Larson

January 30, 1940 – October 22, 2024

Sandy Larson, 84, of Fergus Falls, MN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at Eventide Nursing Home in Moorhead, MN, under the compassionate care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Born Sandra Dee Wright on January 30, 1940, in Lake City, Iowa, she was the daughter of Harry and Opal (Stanley) Wright. Sandy was baptized in Farnhamville, IA, and confirmed at Clearwater Lutheran Church. A proud graduate of Cedar Valley Community School, Class of 1958, she went on to earn her degree as a medical technician from Parsons College.

On April 11, 1964, Sandy married the love of her life, Arnold “Arnie” Larson, at Faith Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. The couple started their life together in the Twin Cities before settling in Lake Itasca in 1983. There, they ran Club Northway until 1989, where Sandy’s warmth and hospitality left a lasting impression on many. Over the years, she also worked at BCBS and Clearwater Clinic, and managed the bookkeeping for Arnie’s trucking business.

Fiercely independent and steadfast in her love and devotion to her family, Sandy was as ready to share in her family’s troubles as she was their happiness. A giver at heart, she found true joy in welcoming people into her home with a warm meal at the ready. She delighted in playing cards and spending time with her family and friends, but nothing brought her more happiness than her sons and grandchildren, who were the light of her life.

Sandy is survived by her three sons: Anthony of Fergus Falls, MN; Thomas (Alyssa) of West Fargo, ND; and Sean (Erica) of Falmouth, MA. She was a proud and loving grandmother to five grandchildren: Breanna (Joe Peasley), Ciara, Hunter, Riley, and Harrison.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Arnie, and her parents, Harry and Opal Wright.

A Celebration of Life was held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Pine Grove Cemetery in Itasca Township, MN. A reception followed at Lobo’s Bar and Grill in Shevlin, MN.

Arrangements are being handled by Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley, MN.

 Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com