Rita A. Hoffman

Rita Ann Hoffman, 81, Moorhead, MN, died in her home on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Rita Ann Geiser, the daughter of Gerhard and Ann (Kaas) Geiser, was born in Bluffton, MN, on January 3, 1933. She grew up and attended school in Bluffton and graduated from high school at St. Benedict's, in St. Joseph, MN. As a young lady, she lived and worked in Minneapolis, MN, and later in Wadena, MN.

While working in Wadena, Rita met Russell J. Hoffman. They were united in marriage on August 16, 1956, in Bluffton. Rita lived in Wadena while Russell completed his military service, and then they made their home in Wahpeton, ND. In 1961, they moved to Moorhead, where they have lived since.

In Fargo-Moorhead, in addition to being a wife and mother, Rita worked in the Ben Franklin Store in the Northport Mall, Fargo. She was a sales consultant for Tupperware and for Home Interiors. She was active in her church and a member of "Christian Mothers." She enjoyed square dancing, bowling, roller skating, and taking family camping trips.

Rita's real calling was as a mother, both to her own five children and as a foster mother. Over a 48-year period, she and Russell were foster parents to more than 500 children in need. For their service, they where recognized as the National Foster Parents of the Year. They were written about in a number of publications, and in 2007, Rita received the "Papal Award," the highest honor the Catholic Church bestows upon lay persons.

Rita is survived by her husband, Russell, Moorhead; children, Rosemary Hirchert, Moorhead, Roger Hoffman, Fargo, Roxanne (Thomas) Young, Moorhead, Renae Kosbab, St. Cloud, MN, and Ruth (Douglas Fugleberg) Hoffman-Fugleberg, Ada, MN; sisters, Bertha Vorderbruggen, New York Mills, MN, and Agnes (William) Wallace, Perham, MN; nine grandchildren; two foster grandchildren; one great-grandchild; six step-grandchildren and 10 step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Raenette; a foster son, Darrell Wilkens; her father; her mother and stepfather; a brother, Wilbert Geiser; and a son-in-law, Virgil Hirchert.

Visitation for Rita is Sunday, from 5 PM until 7 PM, with a prayer service at 7 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Service in Moorhead.

Her funeral service will be Monday, July 14, 2014, at 11:00 AM in St. Francis de Sales, Moorhead.

She will be buried in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.

(Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead)