Dan and Rita Myntti

Love, Hard Work, and a Bit of Good Luck

by Andrea Busche

Similarto a good investment, the decision to work hard and persevere can pay dividends for the rest of one’s life. Just ask Don and Rita Myntti. They recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary, and they love to reminisce about raising a large family and building successful careers. “While hard work has been crucial,” Rita says, “We are so fortunate to have had luck on our side all these years.”

At 92 and 88 years old, the Mynttis are the sweet elderly couple many of us strive to emulate. Both impeccably dressed, it is clear that Rita’s makeup and jewelry have been carefully selected. They still love to socialize and attend concerts and plays, and Don remains a member at the Kitchi Gammi Club. While Rita travels with what Don refers to her “chariot,” (a walker carrying her oxygen), both are otherwise in excellent health.

The Early Years

Rita was born and raised in Proctor. Her mother was from Montreal, and Rita and her three brothers grew up enjoying their mother’s French-Canadian dishes such as savory meat pies with veal and cloves. They were a musical family; Rita contributed by playing the piano, while her father and uncle played stringed instruments. Together, the family would roll up the

Worried about approaching retirement?

Market volatility concerning? Or just “I don’t get this”? Call today for a no-obligation investment review. Helping women and couples invest since 2002 rugs, play music, and dance.

Last in the alphabet. First in advice you can understand.

Don’s parents were Finnish immigrants, and he was raised in Ely. Don grew up spending a lot of time on or in the water, with four summers spent as a canoe trip guide.

Don served in the US Navy in WWII and in the Korean War. He retired from the Navy in 1963 as a Lieutenant Commander.

The Mynttis crossed paths in 1946 when they were both working in Duluth at the Oliver Mining Company. “I fell in love immediately,” Don shares. “I wanted to marry her before someone else did.” Rita wasn’t as immediately smitten. “I wanted to finish college first, but he talked me into marrying him,” she says with a grin.

A Cross-Country Life

Between Don’s Naval service and his career in mining, the couple has moved 27 times over the course of their marriage. They have experienced life in beautiful places like Honolulu, San Diego, and Manhattan.

Remarkably, the Mynttis lived this nomadic lifestyle with their five children (Cynthia, Valerie, Andrea, Charles, and Laura) in tow. While Don focused on his career, Rita kept their home and family life successfully on track.

Don earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Minnesota and spent a total of 60 years in the mining industry: 40 years working for mining companies, and 20 years as a mining consultant. His specialty was the maintenance of heavy mining equipment. His job changes account for their many cross-country moves: “My specialty was in high demand,” he shares.

Rita did some work as a model during their time in Hawaii, walking the runway in fashion shows for the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Demonstrating that she possesses both beauty and brains, she later became a stock broker, holding that role for ten years while the couple lived in Salt Lake City.

Her investing advice is straightforward: “I recommend picking a good stock and continuing to buy it over the years,” she says. “Dollar cost averaging,” Don chimes in helpfully.

Rita went on to earn both her bachelor’s degree (from the University of Evansville) and her master’s degree (from UMD) in later adulthood. She started writing when she was in her seventies and has self-published several books. Don has also written his autobiography.

Don and Rita have a few differences of opinion, but agree on the big things. “Rita is the bleeding heart liberal, and I’m the conservative,” Don says. “But we have yet to have our first real argument.”

They share the same faith and old-fashioned values, however, which have been the glue of their 68-year marriage. “We feel so lucky to have each other at our age,” Rita says.

Duluth Tops the List

The couple moved back to Duluth from San Diego twenty-five years ago. “My favorite place to live, as far as climate, was southern California,” Rita says, “But considering all of life’s gifts and wholesomeness, Minnesota, and particularly Duluth, is right at the top of the list.”

The Mynttis moved into Westwood Apartments one year ago. They enjoy socializing and reading, and they occasionally take the bus downtown.

Their five children (and seven grandchildren) are scattered across the globe from Texas to Beirut, but they visit whenever they can. The Myntti children are all highly educated, with impressive and busy careers. “Of the seven people in our family, I’m the only one without a master’s degree!” Don says with a laugh.

Don and Rita Myntti are an example that hard work and stick-to-itiveness almost always pays off: whether maintaining a long-lasting marriage or building a successful career. But a bit of good luck never hurts. D