Rita Dianne Dickinson (Britton) lived a life worth living. She was a strong leader, a caring friend, loving wife, and nurturing mother. Her laugh was infectious and from the heart; those around her heard it often.
She was born on June 3, 1949 in Wheatland along with her twin sister, Ruthie, to Ruth Britton. Their big sister, Jeanne, lovingly helped them learn the ropes. Rita grew up near grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her mother taught at the elementary school.
Rita went on to the University of Wyoming after high school and was proud to be a Wyoming Cowgirl. She graduated with a degree in elementary education, her kids can attest that she was excellent at classroom management. It was during this time she met Ralph.
Thinking they had figured out who they wanted to spend their lives with, they married while young and still in college on May 31, 1969. They were right.
After graduation Rita agreed to move to Minnesota for Ralph’s job. It was just for a few years. She eventually started working for Northwest Airlines Credit Union as a teller. She retired in 2013 as the vice president of consumer lending. Rita made many life-long friends at the credit union, and earned every paycheck she received.
At home, she and Ralph raised two kids. Matt (1974), and Stacy (1981) are very lucky people, indeed. Rita was loving, and supportive to her family and friends. She was a great mother, who balanced a career, kids, helping in the community, and a marriage.
In her free time Rita enjoyed spending time with her six grandchildren, taking road trips around the Midwest and back to Wyoming (a few years in Minnesota turned into 55), tending rose bushes, playing cards, going to shows with the Ladies’ Day Theater Club, and reading a good book. She made friends for life. There was never a more loyal or fierce advocate for those she loved.
She passed peacefully from this life on Sept. 25, 2026 surrounded by her family and caregivers.
Rita was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth Britton, and sister, Ruthie Garland. She is survived by her husband, Ralph Dickinson; sister, Jeanne Lush; kids, Matt (Tina) Dickinson and Stacy Jansen (Paul); her nieces and nephews Claude Garland, Chris Collins, Kim Garland, Jeff Lush and Jaime Lush; and her grandchildren, Sam, Beth, and Nathan Dickinson and Penelope, Juliette, and Genevieve Jansen.
An informal memorial service is planned at the Commons on Marice in Eagan, Minnesota Oct. 4th at 3:30 p.m. An informal memorial is planned for Sunday, Oct. 11 at 3:30 p.m. at the Commons on Marice in Eagan in their atrium. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association.
She is loved and missed.
