Rita Karger

Rita R. Karger, age 96, of Glenwood, died Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at Glenwood Retirement Village. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 9th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood, with Fr. Joe Vandeberg officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be in St. Donatus Catholic Cemetery in Brooten. Services are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.
Rita Rose Bitzan, daughter of Peter and Rose (Turchin) Bitzan, was born November 19, 1927 in Millerville Township, Douglas County, Minnesota. She grew up on the family farm and attended Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Millerville. As a child, Rita and her six siblings walked two miles to District #56 country school, where she completed school through the 8th grade. Her teenage years were spent working with her family on the farm and, in her free time, learning to play drums. By the age of 15, Rita was playing drums in several bands, including the Western Ramblers, which was her favorite. Her days as a drummer came to an end in her early 20s, when she started her family.
On December 31, 1947, Rita was united in marriage to Erwin A. Karger at her home church in Millerville. Their marriage was blessed with 11 children. The two farmed in Douglas County until Erwin was offered a job on the Soo Line Railroad. For the next 30 years his career took the family from Parkers Prairie to Kramer and Egeland, North Dakota, back to Parkers Prairie, Brooten and finally to Glenwood after retirement. While Erwin worked, Rita was a dedicated homemaker taking care of the children, cooking, baking and making sure the family had everything they needed. She had a large garden and canned the produce so her family would have fresh produce year round. Rita enjoyed playing cards, gardening, sewing and crocheting. Her favorite hobby was fishing! Summer or winter fishing she loved both and many times would out fish whoever she was with.
Rita and Erwin shared 68 years of marriage before Erwin passed away November 20, 2016. When Rita needed help with her daily care she moved into the Glenwood Retirement Village. She passed away there on July 2, 2024 at the age of 96.
Rita is survived by her sons, Gerald (Sharon) of Glenwood, Rick (Linda) of Kandiyohi, Don (Carmen) of Red Wing, and Anthony of Willmar; daughters, MayLinda Reed of Glenwood, Barbara (Terry) Kopka of Fort Collins, CO, and Melissa Crafton of Garfield; 28 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Lavern Bitzan as well as many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Erwin; her parents, Peter and Rose; three sons, Greg, Dale, and Patrick Karger; one daughter, Sandra Baker and Sandra's two husbands, Michael Torgerson and Gary Baker; one son-in-law, Gary Reed; six siblings, Richard, Bernard, Leonard, Evelyn Peterson, Collette Kraemer and Irma Foslien; four grandchildren, Tommy Torgerson, Amy Karger Redmond, Michelle Tokach Callenius and Catherine Reed; and great-granddaughter, Glacius Crafton.
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