Rita "Kooki" Joyce Aegerter

Rita "Kooki" Joyce Alberding was born on August 1, 1945 in Portland, Oregon to Carl and Marie (Geisler) Alberding. She passed away at her Puget Island home on November 13, 2024.

Kooki grew up on a small farm near Hillsboro, Oregon with four siblings (Patricia, Aubrey, Elaine, and Harriet). As a youth, she was a member of 4-H where she developed her passion for Brown Swiss Cows. Kooki graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1963. After high school, she moved to Glendale, California and worked as an accountant's assistant. After saving enough money, she boarded a passenger ship in Florida and embarked on a six-month cruise that took her through the Panama Canal to the South Pacific Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and eventually Hawaii. She returned to Hillsboro and went to work for Montgomery Ward in Portland as a warehouse merchandiser.

On May 1, 1971, Kooki married Fred Aegerter and together partnered with Fred's brother, John, in the operation of the family dairy farm on Puget Island. They raised three children (Tony, Anna, and Alex). On the farm, Kooki was in charge of raising calves and started her own herd of Brown Swiss Cows. Kooki was also known as an excellent cook to the local high school students who worked at the farm.

Kooki managed to be involved in community activities even with her hectic schedule. She was a 4-H club leader and a FFA dairy judging coach. Kooki was a member of the Oregon Historical Society and had an extensive collection of milk bottles and related dairy signs and equipment. She was known for her generosity especially in supporting our troops with deployment care packages. She was also known to turn heads whenever she drove her red 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass to town. She will be remembered for her smile, love of practical jokes, leatherwork, and photography.

Kooki is survived by her son, Tony (Annalei) of Puget Island; daughter Anna, of Las Vegas, NV; and son, Alex of Pullman. She is also survived by her sisters, Patricia and Elaine; sister-in-law, Dianne; brother-in-law, John; and two beloved grand children, Jarrett and Nora. Kooki is preceded in death by her husband, Fred; brother, Aubrey; sister, Harriet; brother-in-law, Dennis; and her parents.

In accordance with Kooki's wishes, there will be no public service. A small family service will be held in North Plains, OR to inter her alongside her family. Kooki wished to recognize the following people as honorary pall bearers: Anne Poitras, Sherron Drach, Rosemarie Nussbaumer Sabo, Dianne Alberding, Patricia Tate, and Trina Moore,

Memorial contributions can be made to the Wahkiakum 4-H program.