Arvaretta “Rita” Newnam, 86, went home to be with the Lord on April 3, 2022 surrounded by her three loving grandchildren.

Arvaretta Louise Bjordahl was born to Arthur and Hazel Bjordahl on May 26, 1935 in Minot, ND. She grew up on the family farm outside of Makoti, ND where she would help with the farm chores. Her large family attended Rose Valley Church. Since the school was so far away from the farm, she would move in with family from Minot where she graduated from Minot High School and worked at Motor Service in Minot. She started writing letters to Roy Newnam while he was in the service. Shortly after Roy returned, her and Roy married on August 18, 1957 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Minot. They would make their home in Stanley where Rita lived in her same home for over 60 years.

Rita worked for many years at the Stanley Hospital, the Stanley Bakery, and various businesses around town. Her and Roy would have one daughter, Arvella, who was born on July 22, 1959 and passed away on May 18, 2004. Roy passed away on May 20, 1997. Rita enjoyed spending time with her three grandchildren, Joshua, Justin, and Amber along with her 6 great-grandchildren (with two more on the way!). Rita would enjoy going on bus tours across the United States with her boyfriend, Harold, and visited almost every state doing so. She even visited Hawaii when her granddaughter, Amber, got married which included some hiking at a volcano! She enjoyed trying new adventures including going on motorcycle rides with her grandson Justin. Grandma also enjoyed gardening and being on a Stanley bowling league for many years.

Grandma loved life and loved spending time with her family and friends. She would visit her grandsons in Florida and North Carolina for a couple weeks at a time. This is where her grandson, Joshua, would learn some of her signature dishes which includes Goulash, Pumpkin cookies, and Cherry Cream Pie. She was also famous for her Lefse and needed to have Lefse at all the Holiday meals.

Baking pies was a passion for Grandma. She would make pies from scratch and bring them to the local farmer markets where she was known as “The Pie Lady.” She would get so excited calling her grandkids and telling them how many she sold and all the different people she would meet. She loved having coffee and pie with friends where many relationships would grow. When her grandson would ask for her pie crust recipe, she would reply with a grin “It’s a secret.”

When Rita wasn’t travelling or making pies, she could be found solving jigsaw puzzles. She would often comment how hard a puzzle would be, but then turn around and have it completed in just a little while. She enjoyed spending time with all her friends and being active in her church at First Baptist of Stanley. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and community.

She is survived by her brother, Robert (Bobby); Aunt, Hazel; Son-in-law, Jack; grandchildren, Joshua (Laura), Justin (Hannah), and Amber (Sergio); great-grandchildren, Henry, Victoria, Victory, Brent, Katara, Veronica, and a baby boy and baby girl on the way.

Rita was preceded in death by her sister, Mary; brothers, Arthur (Junior), Roy, and Harry; her daughter, Arvella; and husband Roy.