Rita K. Dworshak, 75, of Washburn, passed into eternal life in her home on Monday, August 24, 2026. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Edwin’s Catholic Church, Washburn, ND on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 10:30AM. Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 6:00-7:00PM, a prayer service will be held at 7:00PM visitation and resume one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Burial will be in River View Cemetery, Washburn ND.

Rita was born on June 7, 1951, along with her twin brother Larry at St Alexius in Bismarck, ND, to Martin C. and Magdalen (Klein) Pitzer. She joined her siblings Martin S., Paulette and Clayton. Fay and Renee were added to the family later. Rita attended grade school at St. Joseph’s and graduated from Mandan High in 1970.

On July 9, 1971, Rita married Terry Dworshak at St Joe’s in Mandan. They lived in Mandan for the first 6 years of marriage and then moved to Washburn. During the first few years of marriage, Rita worked at Farmers Union Oil in Mandan. After they moved to Washburn, she ran an in-home daycare for over 10 years. After her youngest was in school, Rita started working out of the home. She worked at Roehrich’s Hardware, 83 Express, and Enerbase.

After she retired, Rita and Terry spent the winters in Mesa, AZ. While in Arizona, Rita joined the Teddy Bear Club, and over the next 15 years she made around 75 teddy bears and bunnies, most of which she gave away. She also enjoyed socializing with all the neighbors. Rita was an avid NDSU Bison football fan and Minnesota Vikings fan.

Rita is survived by her husband Terry, her son Clint Dworshak, her daughter Teri M. (Jason) Howard, and her son Kyle (Katie) Dworshak and her grandkids Jace and Sophie. She is also survived by her siblings Clayton (Diane) Maodush-Pitzer, Larry Pitzer and Renee (Steve) Van Atter. She is survived by in-laws Lynette Pitzer, Dale Carlson, Sheila Pitzer, Marge Dworshak, Jerry (Colene) Dworshak, Sandy Svihla, Joe (Linda) Dworshak, David Dworshak, Pete Deichert, Jeff (Michelle) Dworshak, JoAnn (Rick) Schmaltz, Bev (Rich) Hausauer, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by special friends Margaret and Dwight Rasmussen, Martha Keller, and Shelly Metzger.

She was preceded in death by her infant son Ryan; parents Martin and Magdalen; siblings Martin, Paulette, and Fay; in-laws Joseph and Cecelia Dworshak, Richard Dworshak, Ervin Svihla, Cindy Deichert, Jeanette Dworshak and Robert Barnhardt, and nephews Danny Dworshak and Chris Dworshak.

In memory of Rita, please remember the ALS Society with your prayers and charitable giving.