Rita Lauridsen

Our beautiful mother, Rita Lauridsen, 86, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2024 at her home in Salmon Arm, B.C.

A proud coal miner’s daughter, Rita was born and raised at Cadomin, Alberta, and later moved to Mercoal, AB with her parents and sisters, Rena and Roma. After the high school years, Rita, alongside her sister Roma, became AGT telephone switchboard operators in Edson, AB. This is where she would meet the love of her life, Dick Lauridsen, whom she would eventually marry and together they raised three children, Jerry, Lori, and Tracy. Dick and Rita settled on a farm outside of Wildwood, and operated their own construction company, Dick Lauridsen Cat Work Ltd., from the 1960s to 1980s. Rita was not only a co-owner, but the company bookkeeper as well.

In 1985, Dick and Rita moved to Salmon Arm, B.C. Here she enjoyed home design, collecting dolls, history, travelling, and watching her favourite soap operas throughout the years. Rita enjoyed her children (their spouses) and grandchildren, and always managed to provide her family with the best wisdom, guidance, and knowledge she could offer. To us, she was our everything, mainly because of the love and respect she had for those closest to her.

Rita is survived by her son, Jerry Lauridsen, daughters, Lori (Doug) Rehn, and Tracy Lauridsen. Grandchildren, Rico Rehn, Krystle (Dwight) Lakusta, and Great-grandchildren, Axel, Danika, and Sylvie Lakusta, her sisters, Rena Mizera and Roma Anderson. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Richard (Dick), and parents, Pete and Louise Gambin.

A graveside (family only) service was held at the Shuswap Memorial Cemetery on Friday, July 5, 2024 at 11:00 am.