Rita Feldewerd

Rita T. Feldewerd, age 89 of Melrose, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the Cura Care Center in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 10 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. The Mass will be livestreamed and the link can be found at: oneinfaith.org

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Rita Theresa Doll was born April 21, 1936 in St. Martin, Minnesota to Joseph and Elizabeth (Schaefer) Doll. She was united in marriage to Alfred Feldewerd on November 19, 1963 at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin. Rita worked at Pine Villa in Melrose as a nursing assistant and also at Park View as an activity aide. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Women, the Legion of Mary, and volunteered at St. Mary’s School in Melrose. Rita enjoyed sewing and quilting, making crafts and greeting cards, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Alfred Feldewerd of Melrose; children, Therese (Ron) Herdering of Melrose, Linda Feldewerd of Farmington, Thomas (Deanna) Feldewerd of Melrose, and Lori (Glen) Arceneau of St. Martin; eight grandchildren, Leah (Luke) Blonigen, Brandon (Alli) Herdering, Kim (Joe) McCoy, Nick Herdering, Kayla (Brandon) Kurtz, Logan Arceneau (Brooke Schleicher), Katianna Feldewerd, and Christopher Feldewerd; four great-grandchildren, Owen, Milo, and Ellie Blonigen, Braxton Kurtz, and Baby McCoy due in May of 2026; and sister-in-law, Theresa Doll.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Doll; brothers and sisters, Henry Doll, Marcella Laumeyer, Urban Doll, Sylvester Doll, Genevieve Loehr, Maria Faber, Hilary Doll, Martin Doll, Virgil Doll, MaryAnn Fuchs, Anthony Doll, Walburga Lieser, and Joseph Doll.