Rita J. Iverson

Rita J. Iverson, age 69, of Hillman, MN, passed away Monday, December 08, 2014, at Mille Lacs Health System Hospital in Onamia, MN.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, December 12, 2014, at Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Hillman, MN.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 8:00 P.M. Thursday, December 11th at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz and at the church on Friday one hour prior to the service.

Rita Joyce Nassif was born on October 15, 1945, in Minneapolis, MN, the daughter of Beverly Belle Jensen and Rudy Nassif.As a child, Beverly and Rudy were divorced and Beverly married Carl Jensen who became her father.She grew up in Minneapolis and attended South High School.She became a waitress at Bonnies Tap in Minneapolis and later became the owner.It is known to be said that she is the creator of the famous Juicy Lucy.At the age of 18, she was married and had three children, Brent, Ryan and Shaye.In the early 1970s she owned and operated a wig business with her best friend, Sue Adams.She met Norman Iverson and moved to Hillman with him in 1973 where they made their home, had a son, Normy, and later married.During this time she was one of the founders of the Hillman First Response Team in the state of Minnesota.She also wrote cooking articles for the Morrison County Record.Rita returned to school in 1982 and received her G.E.D at the age of 38.She then went to school to be a Nursing Assistant and began her career at Mille Lacs Health Systems in Onamia.While working in Onamia she continued her education and became an LPN and an RN.She later on became the Director of Nursing at Mille Lacs Health Systems where she continued to work for almost 30 years.

Rita was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease in her late 30s.In 2003, she received a kidney from her daughter, Shaye which saved her life.During the years of her illness, she was always known as strong-willed, feisty, optimistic and a fighter!

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Norman; children, Brent (Laura) LaFavor, Daniel (Gail) Iverson, Ryan (Norma) LaFavor, Heidi Iverson, Shaye (Steve) Thompson, and Norman O. (Dana) Iverson; father, Carl O. Jensen; siblings, Todd (Jackie) Jensen and Kimm (Kevin) Hayes; 19 grandchildren, Wayne, Ciara, Tyanna, Mattsen, Daneka, Isaac, Isabella, Decorah, Tiarra, Gabriella, Lauren, Cade, Hunter, Easton, Logan, Lilly, Shayla, Morgan, and Madison, and 2 great-grandchildren, Blaine and Sloan.

Rita was preceded in death by her mother, Beverly Jensen and father, Rudy Nassif.