Rita Elizabeth Heyer, age 89 of Austin, Minnesota, died Saturday morning, Sept. 2, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus, Rochester, Minnesota.

Rita Fisher was born Sept. 5, 1927, in Sommerset Township, Steele County, Minnesota the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Renchin) Fisher. She attended country school near their home. On November 6, 1946, she was united in marriage to Martin Paul Heyer at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Morristown, Minnesota. Following their marriage, the couple made their home in Austin, Minnesota where Rita worked at Geo A. Hormel Company for thirty-nine years. Rita was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and the LWML. She enjoyed crocheting, fishing, cooking and especially being with her family. Rita loved her many nieces; nephews; great nieces; great nephews and special family friends. Martin died on Feb. 1, 2009. Rita moved to the Courtyard Apartments in 2014

Survivors include her sister, Ethel (Walter) Halla of Owatonna, Minnesota; two sisters-in-laws, Elaine Fisher of Blaine, Minnesota and Arlene Edwards of Austin; her many nieces, nephews; great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Martin Heyer and four sisters, Sylvia Spindler, Anna Houglum, Mildred Halla and Mary Alice Fisher; five brothers, Leo, Sylvester, Paul, Charles and one in infancy.

Funeral services will be held at 1  p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin with Pastor James Groleau, officiating. Interment will follow the service at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1  p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, at the church. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.

A special thank you to Rita’s sister and brother-in-law; her sister-in-law; her nieces and nephews; all her family and friends and a very special thank you to Pastor James; Tina Bell and Ellen and Clayton Petersen for being part of Rita’s life.