Rita Cole, 74

Belle Plaine - Rita Annabelle Cole, age 74, of Belle Plaine, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Hennepin Healthcare Hospital in Minneapolis. Faithful, Loyal and True. Rita had a very strong faith in Jesus Christ. She was a wonderful wife and mother. Rita was a woman of few words but when she spoke people listened. Rita made custom lampshades. Her favorite style was Victorian. Rita worked as the custom lampshade maker for Wayzata Lamps and Shades for many years. She was called upon by designers and custom lamp makers for her shades. Rita also loved to travel and visit. Her favorite city in the United States was Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She loved to shop in Antiqua, Guatemala with her daughter Erin. Rita liked earth tones. She loved two dogs during her years of marriage: Dreamer and Biscuit. Rita enjoyed all types of plants and flowers. She liked anything that bloomed. When she lived in Arizona she would ask to go for a ride in the desert to see the cacti in bloom. Rita was raised by a very godly mother. From the earliest days Rita had a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Rita and her husband Dan came from really different backgrounds religiously. Rita came from a quiet Lutheran background while Dan came from Pentecostal background. Together they pastored two churches and served on the pastoral staff of four congregations. Rita served faithfully as a pastor’s wife. She loved the people of every congregation they served and they loved her back. Coming from Northwestern Minnesota she thought they had left the snow and cold for good when she lived in Phoenix. That was until they accepted a call to Thief River Falls. She cried for a few days thinking of going back to the snow and cold. Not long ago Rita told Dan that her time in Thief River Falls were some of the best years of her life. Rita is survived by her husband, Dan; daughter, Erin (Javier) of Zacapa, Guatemala; son, Adam (Amanda), Minneapolis; brother, Vaughn Rundquist (Lorene), Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Darwin Gomez, Rita Gomez, Lydia Gomez, and Abraham Cole. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Heather Joy; parents, Bernard and Violet Rundquist; and brother, Leland Rundquist. A burial is planned for the summer of 2024 at Sikar Cemetery in rural Lancaster. Arrangements are with McNearney-Schmidt Funeral and Cremation, Shakopee, 952-445-2755. Condolences may be shared at www.mcnearneyfuneralhome.com. A00003B2024AP10