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Rita Bertilla Zinnel
Rita Bertilla (Steffensmeier) Zinnel (81) went to her heavenly home on September 10, 2021. She was born on November 6, 1939 in Dodge County, Nebraska at home to Joe & Philomena Steffensmeier. At age eight she was diagnosed with polio. Due to polio, she spent the rest of her life with braces on her legs and walked with crutches. She attended school in Salem, South Dakota until her sophomore year. She then attended the Crippled Children’s School in Sioux Falls, SD where she graduated. She then attended Nettleton Junior College where she graduated with a secretary degree. She worked for All American Trucking Company in Sioux Falls for 11 years until she met the love of her life Eugene Zinnel on a blind date. They were married on July 24, 1971 at St. Lambert’s Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. She lived on the family farm near Brewster until she moved to Maple Lawn Nursing Home in February of 2021. From this marriage arrived four children, Todd, Chad, Natalie & Joel. Rita’s joys were her family. She spent most of the summers camping at local campgrounds and taking many trips with the camper. Rita was always willing to help in the kitchen at Sacred Heart for funerals and other events. Eugene and Rita spent 19 winters at Big Valley Trailer Park in Donna, TX. Rita is survived by her husband, Eugene, Brewster, MN, her children, Todd Zinnel, LeMars, IA, Chad (Mary Ann) Zinnel, Sioux Falls, SD, Natalie Zinnel, Brewster, MN and Joel Zinnel, Phoenix, AZ. Her siblings, Marilyn Eichacker, Sioux Falls, SD and Jim Steffensmeier, Sioux Falls, SD; sister/brother in-laws, Eileen Johnson, Pipestone, MN and Wayne & Judy Zinnel, Brewster, MN; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe & Philomena Steffensmeier, parent in-laws Harold & Helen Zinnel, sister & brother-in-law’s Joan & Marlyn Heeren, Leonard Eichacker, and Gerald Johnson. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Brewster, MN, with Father Pratap Reddy Salibindla officiating. Casket bearers will be David Heeren, Kerry Zinnel, Bruce Eichacker, Scott Eichacker, Doug Schleusner, and Kelly Zinnel. Burial will be in the Worthington Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 pm on Friday, September 17, 2021, at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington and also one hour prior to service on Saturday at the church. Benson Funeral Home in Worthington is coordinating the arrangements.November 6, 1939 - September 10, 202111/06/193909/10/2021
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Rita Bertilla Zinnel
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