Obituary: Rita Marie (Johannsen) Randall

Rita Marie (Johannsen) Randall passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth, Minnesota, with her loving husband, Steven, and sons, Derek and Dustin, by her side. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Rita will be missed by all who have been blessed to have known her.

Rita Marie Johannsen was born on March 20, 1956, in Bemidji, Minnesota, to Rose Marie (Meyers) and Russell Louis Johannsen. Rita spent her younger years growing up in Bena, Nashwauk, and Wadena, Minnesota, before moving to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where she attended and graduated, with honors, from Grand Rapids High School, Class of 1974. It was there that she met Steven Wayne Randall, who she fell in love with and married on Sept. 8, 1973.

After marriage, Rita and Steven moved to Columbia Heights, Minnesota, where Steven attended school. After completing school, they moved to Moorhead, Minnesota, where Rita spent much of her working life in healthcare, including Dakota Clinic, Fargo, North Dakota; St. Ansgar’s Hospital, Moorhead, Minnesota; Fargo Clinic, Fargo, North Dakota; Banner Health, Fargo, North Dakota; Innovis Hospital, Fargo, North Dakota; and Essentia Health, Fargo, North Dakota and Duluth, Minnesota.

In 2011, Rita and Steven moved to Carlton, Minnesota, with Rita continuing to work for Essentia Health in Duluth, Minnesota, until her retirement in 2020.

Rita had a wonderful life filled with travel, lake life, numerous sporting events, and several cats and dogs. Rita and Steven loved to spend time together boating, snowmobiling, four wheeling, skiing, biking, and Corvette riding. Rita loved spending time with her grandchildren and attending the many piano recitals, dance recitals, school, and sporting events as they grew up.

She was a proud band member of the White Earth Nation.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents.

Rita is survived by her husband of 51 years, Steven; her two sons, Derek Wayne (Jennifer) Randall of Carlton, Minnesota, and Dustin Alan (Maureen) Randall of Cloquet, Minnesota; a brother, Louis Nathan (Rosemary) Johannsen of Bovey, Minnesota; six blessed grandchildren, Adeline Josie Randall, Ezra Alexander Randall, Danielle Dee Randall, Zoe Grace Randall, Eli Philip Randall, and Morrison Lawrence Randall; many loving nieces and nephews; and her two beloved beagles, Cooper, and Lucy.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Queen of Peace Church, 102 Fourth St, Cloquet, Minnesota. Fathers Nick Nelson and Joel Hastings will officiate.

A 2025 springtime burial will take place at Harris Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Downs Life Celebration Center, 1902 N 34th St., Superior, is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit http://www.downsfh.com.