Obituary for Donald Ritz
Donald Ritz, age 84, of Watertown, SD passed away Thursday, January 19, 2023, at the Avantara Care Center in Lake Norden, SD.
Funeral service will be 2:00pm, Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown with Pastor Scott Dempster officiating.
Visitation will be 5-7pm, Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel.
Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown with military honors by the National Guard Funeral Honors Team and the American Legion Codington County Post 17.
Pallbearers will be Eugene Ritz, Monte Hillestad, Steve Neeser and Paul Higgins.
Donald “Don” Eugene Ritz was born September 10, 1938, to Fred J. and Gertrude (Henrichs) Ritz on the family farm north of Watertown, South Dakota. He attended country school and Watertown High School, graduating in 1958.
Don joined the Army National Guard in 1956. The unit he served in was Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 147th Field Artillery. He retired from the National Guard after over 34years of service at the rank of 1st Sergeant (E8).
Don married Darlene Margaret Jacobs on October 8, 1960, at the St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. They had three children, Eugene, Julie and Vicki. Don and Darlene lived in Hazel, SD for two years. Don was employed as a janitor at the Hazel School. They moved to Watertown. Don worked at Schweigers. After a few years he quit Schweigers and then farmed. In 1982, along with farming, Don started driving the school bus for the Watertown Schools. He drove the school bus for 22 years.
In 2002, Don suffered a stroke and stopped raising crops. He continued to have livestock until 2018.
In April 2019, Don went to the Avantara Care Center in Lake Norden, SD.
Don was a member of the Watertown American Legion since 1990. Don was a lifetime member of the South Dakota Hereford Association
Don is survived by his wife, Darlene Ritz of Watertown; his children, Eugene Ritz of West Fargo, ND, Julie (David) Ritz-Schlaifer of Plymouth, MN and Vicki (Steve) Neeser of Bloomington, MN; his sister, Helen Valliere of Haines City, FL; his sister-in-law, Charlotte “Charlie” Ritz of Watertown, SD; four grandchildren, Leo and Miles Schlaifer and Brooke and Bridget Neeser; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jim Ritz; his sisters, Rose Roberts, Gertrude Hillestad-Rusche, Martha Hanten, Carol Ritz and Linda Ritz.
Funeral service will be 2:00pm, Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown with Pastor Scott Dempster officiating.
Visitation will be 5-7pm, Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel.
Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown with military honors by the National Guard Funeral Honors Team and the American Legion Codington County Post 17.
Pallbearers will be Eugene Ritz, Monte Hillestad, Steve Neeser and Paul Higgins.
Donald “Don” Eugene Ritz was born September 10, 1938, to Fred J. and Gertrude (Henrichs) Ritz on the family farm north of Watertown, South Dakota. He attended country school and Watertown High School, graduating in 1958.
Don joined the Army National Guard in 1956. The unit he served in was Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 147th Field Artillery. He retired from the National Guard after over 34years of service at the rank of 1st Sergeant (E8).
Don married Darlene Margaret Jacobs on October 8, 1960, at the St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. They had three children, Eugene, Julie and Vicki. Don and Darlene lived in Hazel, SD for two years. Don was employed as a janitor at the Hazel School. They moved to Watertown. Don worked at Schweigers. After a few years he quit Schweigers and then farmed. In 1982, along with farming, Don started driving the school bus for the Watertown Schools. He drove the school bus for 22 years.
In 2002, Don suffered a stroke and stopped raising crops. He continued to have livestock until 2018.
In April 2019, Don went to the Avantara Care Center in Lake Norden, SD.
Don was a member of the Watertown American Legion since 1990. Don was a lifetime member of the South Dakota Hereford Association
Don is survived by his wife, Darlene Ritz of Watertown; his children, Eugene Ritz of West Fargo, ND, Julie (David) Ritz-Schlaifer of Plymouth, MN and Vicki (Steve) Neeser of Bloomington, MN; his sister, Helen Valliere of Haines City, FL; his sister-in-law, Charlotte “Charlie” Ritz of Watertown, SD; four grandchildren, Leo and Miles Schlaifer and Brooke and Bridget Neeser; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jim Ritz; his sisters, Rose Roberts, Gertrude Hillestad-Rusche, Martha Hanten, Carol Ritz and Linda Ritz.