Rita Norton obituary

Rita Norton, 93, of Lake City, Minn., passed away Friday, May 22, 2026, at Mayo Health System – Care Center, Lake City.
Rita Ann was born May 18, 1933, in Warren Township, Winona County, Minn. to Thecla (Thesing) and George Burns. She attended eight years of country school at District 6, Wyattville, Minn. and four years of high school at Lewiston, Minn. graduating in 1951. On August 26, 1959, she married Franklin Norton at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Lewiston and together they raised their son, Kevin.
Rita was formerly employed at the Agricultural and Stabilization and Conservation Office (ASC Office), Lewiston, for eight years and was a deputy clerk of district court Wabasha County, Minn. for 12 years, retiring in 1972.  She enjoyed reading, writing letters, dancing, bowling, eating out and visiting.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Frank; and sisters Thecla Bauer, Darleen Schossow, Kathleen Putzier; brothers Anthony Burns, Patrick Burns, and George Burns; sisters-in-law Mary F. Burns, Nell Burns, Marian Burns, Gloria Burns, and Janet Burns; and brothers-in-law Elmer Roy Huebner, Robert L. Schossow, and John Bauer.
Rita is survived by her son Kevin Norton and his special friend Darla Dohrn; two grandsons, Austin Norton and Hunter Norton (fiancée Brooklynn Stewart); sister, Mary (Joe) Speltz; brothers Timothy Burns, William Burns, Dennis (Donna) Burns, and James (Sue) Burns; brother-in-law Lawrence Putzier; and many other cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, rural Kellogg, Minn. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Winona.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at the church.
Memorials can be directed to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, c/o St. Joachim Catholic Church, 900 Broadway Ave., Plainview, MN, 55964.
Services entrusted to Abbott Funeral Home and Crematory, Wabasha, Minn.  Words of sympathy or remembrance may be left at www.abbottfh.com.