Rita Sipe, 71, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 16, 2026, at her apartment in Osage, IA. She was born on July 26, 1955, in Jamestown, ND, to Dr. Edwards Jakobsons and Irina (Zukovski) Jakobsons.

Rita was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Carrington, ND, where she spent her childhood. She graduated from Carrington High School in 1973. After graduation, she moved to Fargo, ND, where she worked at several major restaurants for a number of years.

Rita married her loving husband, Tim Sipe, in 1989, and they continued living and working in Fargo. They always looked forward to their annual summer vacations at Madden’s Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd, MN. They had no children, but Rita truly had a heart full of love for all cats, and several could always be found in their home.

As a younger person, Rita had been diagnosed with a non-treatable progressive eyesight condition that left her unable to drive and dependent on others for help with reading and writing. When Tim passed away on August 16, 2014, she moved to Osage to live with her brother, Ivar, and his wife, Nan.

Rita is survived by her brother, Ivar (Nan), and their children, Anne-Marie and Edward; sisters-in-law, Teri (Patrick) Deutsch, Tammy (Kevin) Anderson, Trudy (Steve) Collins, and Trisa (Alan) Olson; and her 10 beloved nieces and nephews, who all meant the world to her.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tim; and in-laws, Tony and Clarabelle Sipe.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 2:00pm, at the Ada City Cemetery, Ada, MN.