Rita (Lind) Eisenman

Rita P. (née Locke) (Lind) Eisenman

Rita P. (née Locke)(Lind) Eisenman left this life on September 7, 2015.   She was born July 29, 1921, in Tizzard’s Harbor, Newfoundland, a typical isolated fishing community in the northern part of Notre Dame Bay.  She graduated from the two-room school house in Tizzard’s Harbor and attended Nurses Training at Dr. Olds Hospital across the harbor in Twillingate, under the guidance of Dr. Olds.  In addition to hospital training, she served aboard the Bonne Nell, an inter-coastal medical boat that provided medical assistance to the small fishing communities.

She met her first love, Harold R. Lind of Hibbing, during WWII while he was working at the U.S. Naval Base and Air Station in Argentia, Newfoundland in 1942.  They were married on July 25, 1942, in St Johns, Newfoundland.    In February 1943, Harold brought her to Hibbing where they began their new life.  During her life in Hibbing, she gained her U.S. Citizenship by attending classes at Hibbing High School.  She worked at Hibbing General Hospital as a nurse in the O.B. unit for several years.  In later years, she worked for Dr. Kuhl and Dr. Scott Mescher until her retirement at age 65.   She treasured spending time with her family.

Following the death of her first husband, Harold, in January 1985, she married Dr. Walter Eisenman in 1987, and enjoyed traveling across the country, spending winters in the Turks and Caicos Islands, visiting her siblings in Newfoundland, and time on Burrows Lake in Itasca County.

Rita is survived by her children: sons Robert (Karen), Arthur (Kathleen), and Roger (Virginia) Lind; daughters Elizabeth Olin and Debra (Dave Gilbert) Pearson; step-children Jean Eisenman Peshel, and John (Wilma) Eisenman; a sister, Mae (Gerald) Penney; and a brother, Hardy Locke; 13 grandchildren:  James,  Shanan, Roger, Richard, Matthew, Melissa, Michelle, Michael, Leeanne, Lisa, Jack, Elsbeth & Megan; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Rita was preceded in death by her first husband, Harold R. Lind in 1985; her second husband, Dr. Walter Eisenman in 2005; her parents, Robert and Pearl (Rice) Locke;  sisters Ruth (Ernest) Stuckless , Rose (Jim) Jones, and Florence (Hayward) Hancock; brothers Gilbert (Vera) Locke and infant brother Robert Locke.

The funeral service will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, at Dougherty Funeral Home, with visitation beginning at 10 AM in the funeral home.  The Rev. Ben Schori will officiate.  A luncheon will be provied at First Lutheran Church Saturday beginning at 12:30  PM.  Private interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing.  To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.doughertyofhibbing.com