Rita V. Hagen, 93

| June 13, 2018 2:00 AM

Rita Hagen, 93, passed away peacefully Friday, June 8, 2018, at 5:38 a.m. at Timber Creek Village in Columbia Falls.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 15, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell, with graveside services following at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Rita Veronica (Kok) Hagen was born March 31, 1925, near Plaza, North Dakota, to Barbara (Thuringer) Kok and Louis Kok. Rita was the fourth born of eight children and grew up on the family farm. She left home at age 14 to attend high school in Minot, North Dakota, at St. Leo’s. Immediately after high school, Rita and her sister Dorothy (Kok) Senner jumped on the train to work in the ship yards as “Rosie the Riveter” welders in Seattle.

Later in life, she met and married Donald K. Hagen in October 1957 and the couple made their home in Great Falls. They were blessed with one son, Timothy Donald Hagen, in August 1959. Rita and Don owned and operated Great Falls Mr. Klean for 35 years. Following retirement, the couple moved to Kalispell and remained here for the rest of their lives.

Rita was preceded in death by her mother and father, Barbara and Louis Kok; her husband of 55 years, Donald K. Hagen; her brothers, John, Al and Ray Kok; and her sisters, Dorothy (Kok) Senner and Genevieve (Kok) Toole.

She is survived by her son, Timothy (Bev) Hagen, from Havre; grandchildren, Ashley (Darin) Pankratz from Richland, Montana, and Jordan Hagen from Havre; as well as three great-grandchildren, Hannah, Gavin and Kash Pankratz; and two siblings, Margaret “Marge” (Kok) Keith from Columbia Falls and Robert (Nita) Kok from Plaza.

Being from a large family, Rita has many special nieces, nephews and people in her life that she leaves behind. Rita had a love for kids, laughter, card games and fun. Any desired donations should be to any organization that makes a positive impact on kids.

Friends are encouraged to visit www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.