Rita L. Riopelle

Rita Riopelle, age 95, of Grafton, ND died Saturday, November 7, 2020 at Valley Senior Living, Grand Forks.  Rita L French was born in Grafton on July 14, 1925, the daughter of Oscar and Dora (Sabourin) French.  She was raised in Oakwood and graduated from Grafton Central High School.  She married Reo Riopelle in Grafton on November 23, 1949.  They farmed in the Grafton area.  Rita served as the Catholic religious education director at the Life Skills and Transition Center from 1967 to 1987.

Rita is survived by her children, Dora (Dennis) Elbert, Grand Forks, and Adair (Mark) Boening, Fargo, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.  Rita was preceded in death by her parents, husband Reo on February 1, 1998 and brother, Leo French.

Rita was gifted with creativity.  She could look at a fashion in a store and then go home and sew it from memory for her daughters.  She performed many deeds of kindness without calling attention to herself.  Rita was a faithful servant.  May perpetual light shine upon her.

Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren, Jason Elbert, Christina Fargo, Danielle Hoyt, Nick Boening and Jake Boening.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 13 ^th at 10:30 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church, Grafton.  Due to the pandemic Mass will be live-streamed on the Tollefson Funeral Home Inc. Facebook page. A video will be posted on the Tollefson Funeral Home website following the service.   Interment will follow at St. John’s cemetery.