Rita Clare (Moritko) Giese

Rita (Moritko) Giese
July 11, 1941 – December 15, 2025

The feisty, one-of-a-kind matriarch, Rita (Moritko) Giese, age 84, of Akeley, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family who showered her with love and tears for a life well lived.

Rita is survived by her daughter, Cori; sons Ted (Kay) Giese and Mark (Steph) Giese; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, who could do no wrong in her eyes; and sisters Pat (Mike) Dolan, Dinah (Les) Bursey, and Lou Stadsklev. She was preceded in death by her husband Ted Giese; son Mitch Giese; parents Stanley and Harriet (Swistun) Moritko; sister Lorraine Deminsky; and brothers Bud and Wally.

Rita was born on July 11, 1941, in Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Stanley and Harriet Moritko. She attended Holy Cross Catholic School and graduated from Vocational High School for Dressmaking. In 1960, she married the love of her life, Ted Giese, and together they raised their four children in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Rita spent many years working at Honeywell before retiring and moving “up north” with Ted—exactly where she felt most at home. Adventurous by nature, Rita firmly believed you should try everything once. Her favorite stories included cabin adventures with her children, family trips to Las Vegas, backroad road trips with Ted, and warm-weather vacations with her sisters.

Rita loved hosting family gatherings, where she prepared large meals with love, laughter, and zero concern for portion sizes. She could often be found at the Stomp for meat raffles, playing pull tabs at the Legion, watching wildlife from her sunroom, and never giving up on Oak Island. Above all, she treasured time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Life will never be the same without you, Rita—but we will “suck it up, buttercup” and carry on as you taught us. “Na zdrowie!” to a life lived boldly, lovingly, and unapologetically.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Rita’s life will be held on June 27, 2026, at Lake George Park in Oak Grove, Minnesota.  Cards may be sent to PO Box 242, Akeley, MN 56433.