Rita Wetzel

Rita Ann Wetzel, 76, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away peacefully at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House on Friday, March 13, 2026, following a short but courageous battle with cancer. Surrounded by her loving family and friends, she faced her illness with determination and grace.

Born on December 19, 1949, in Owatonna, Minnesota, to Dale and Gertrude Wetzel (Dinse), Rita graduated from Owatonna High School in 1968. She made her home in the Twin Cities and Richfield, Minnesota, for most of her adult life. A devoted mother, beloved grandmother, and cherished friend, Rita forged her own path with fortitude and strength. She put herself through college while raising her two children, earning a Bachelor’s Degree from Metropolitan State University and a Master’s Degree from Augsburg University. She enjoyed a successful career in Information Technology at Control Data and 3M in St. Paul, retiring from 3M in 2009. In 2014, she moved to Sioux Falls to be near her grandchildren.

As a mother, Rita was deeply committed to providing her children, Chris and Angi, with life skills, experiences, and unwavering support. She spent countless hours chauffeuring them to biking, skiing, gymnastics, soccer, and track events while encouraging their academic pursuits. She instilled in them a love of the outdoors through YMCA summer camps, road trips across the United States, Boundary Waters Canoe Area adventures, and international travel, always cheering them on with pride.

Rita’s grandchildren, Stella and Lucy, were the light of her life. She cherished simple joys with them—sharing ice cream, playing card games, baking, crafting, attending their sporting events and school activities, and taking road trips together. In her younger years, she enjoyed running, cycling, and both downhill and cross-country skiing. One of her proudest memories was serving as a torch bearer for 3M during the Atlanta Summer Olympics Torch Relay in St. Paul. In later years, she found peace hiking at Good Earth State Park with her beloved dog, Rusty. She also had a deep passion for quilting, crafting, and card making, creating many beautiful pieces for family, friends, and charities. A good book was never far from her side, and her warm presence was a gift to all who knew her.

She is survived by her son, Chris; her daughter, Angi, and son-in-law, Eric; grandchildren Stella and Lucy; her sister, Sharon Carstens; nieces and nephew Kyle, Gail, and Lisa and their children; and many other family members and friends, including those from the North Star Ski Touring Club, the TC Coffee Club at the Bluffs, and her fellow quilters and card makers. Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Gertrude Wetzel, and her brother, Dwaine Wetzel.