Rita Jane Burgess

Age 85.  May the legacy of Rita, our dynamo momma bear, live on through all of those who adored her including her family of 9 children, 19 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren. She peacefully passed away surrounded by her children at Methodist Hospital from heart failure on August 6th, 2021. Rita is best known as a passionate Christian, devoted wife, nurturing mother, courageous supporter to her entire family and friends with endless love and extreme generosity. Voted class president for the majority of her high school years, named Queen of Corwith, Iowa are a few among numerous admirable achievements Rita made. While working at General Motors in Des Moines, Rita met her husband Mick, the father of her children. After moving to Minnesota in 1969 she spent the next 12 years opening her home and sharing her generous heart, compassion, and wisdom to countless children, treating each as if they were her own. Rita started a new career in the travel agency which gave her the ability to enjoy adventures on some unforgettable trips with her children. Throughout Rita's life she volunteered at multiple Catholic churches in Iowa and Minnesota.  Rita is survived by her sisters, Joan Hallman and Ramona Arndorfer; her children, Jane Peterson (Greg), Frank Burgess (Marnie), Tim Burgess (Kim), Judy Hart (Dave), Teresa Snyder (Paul), Patty Burgess (Pat), Kathleen Burgess-Soshnik (Mike), Michelle Frederick (Tom), and Deborah Brimacomb (Randall); grandchildren, Leslie Seppamaki (Mike), and Mitchel Peterson, Leah Anderson, Shannon Stark (Ryan), Alex, Mike, Nick, and Jessica Hart, Kayla Moe (Josh), Lukas Snyder Mudra (Mitch), Ben Snyder, Jennifer, Anna, and Steven Soshnik, Rita, and Brooke Frederick, Roan, Beauden, and Weston Brimacomb; great grandchildren, Nathan, Connor, and Anika Seppamaki, Sebastian Snyder Mudra, and Sonny Stark; and countless friends and acquaintances who had the privilege of knowing this gracious woman.  Rita is preceded in death by her parents, George and Evelyn Gray; husband Frank "Mick" Burgess; in-laws, Frank and Mildred Burgess; son Gregory Burgess; siblings, Donna Knoll, Mary Richter, Ardys Myers, Shirley Hartzell, James Gray, Paul Gray, Jack Gray, Don Gray, Jerry Gray, and Elizabeth Gray; and husband Richard "Dick" Nordquist. Our prayers go with you, Rita, as you become a powerful angel to all who have been blessed to know you and love you! Your unmatched generosity and love will continue to bless our lives forever.  Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 AM Friday, September 10 at ST. JOSEPH OF THE LAKES CATHOLIC CHURCH, 171 Elm St., Lino Lakes. Visitation at the church from 9:30-10:30 AM Friday 9/10. Interment St. Joseph’s Church Cemetery.