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August Ritter Obituary
August Ritter, 72, Bismarck, died Jan. 17, 2008, in a Bismarck hospital. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church south campus, with the Rev. Jeff Tengesdal officiating. Burial will be held in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bismarck Funeral Home and continues one hour prior to services at the church.
August John Ritter was born July 21, 1935, to Joachim and Magdalena (Dockter) Ritter at Eureka, S.D. He grew up on the family farm, was educated in Venturia Public Schools and graduated from Ashley High School in 1953, in a class of 34 students. He began teaching in a one-room school in rural Venturia. He married Patricia (Patty) Breitling Aug. 11, 1955. He accepted a teaching position with Wishek Public Schools and furthered his formal education during the summer months. He received his bachelor's degree from UND Ellendale Center, and his master's degree in educational administration from North Dakota State University, Fargo.
In September 1966 he accepted a teaching position with Bismarck Public Schools as an elementary teacher at Pioneer School. He served as elementary principal at Saxvik, Jeannette Myhre and Northridge schools, the position he held until his retirement in 1990. Highlights of his career include receiving the Gold Award for outstanding contributions to education, serving as president of North Dakota Elementary Principals Association, being honored as National Distinguished Principal from North Dakota and working with Northridge School staff and community to achieve the Blue Ribbon School Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education.
Following his retirement, he was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives from District 47, where he served one term. He also served as director of Bismarck/Mandan Teacher Center, where he directed a project for six years supporting first year teachers. Most recently he assisted with The Transition To Teaching project, a program to recruit and train teachers to obtain their full teaching license. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck, serving as usher, lay reader, financial secretary and treasurer.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia, Bismarck; and their children and one grandchild, Shelley and Frank Geesey, Sacramento, Calif., and Darcie and Arlan Dykema and Chelsea, Brent and Marcene Ritter, all of Oakdale, Conn. He is also survived by one brother and sister-in-law, James and Carol (Oster) Ritter, Hazen; one sister, Esther, and brother-in-law, Terry Focke, Bismarck; and seven nieces and three nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joachim and Magdalena; and one sister, Ruth.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in August Ritter's name.
Go to http://www.bismarckfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family.
Memories and Condolences
for August Ritter
Rick Buresh
January 25, 2008
Pat and family,
I am so sorry to hear of August's untimely illness and death. I am so sorry for him and for your whole family. I deeply regret having to miss his funeral. He was such a powerful influence on me as an educator. I trusted his counsel without question. He was a great mentor to me as a new principal and left huge footsteps for me to follow. He has left a huge legacy through his own family but also through all the students, parents, and staff members that he's touched throughout a career. I can only hope to do as well. We're thinking of you.
Rick & Janette Buresh
Lowell & Karen Jensen
January 23, 2008
Pat and Family:
We just learned of August's passing and want to express our deepest sympathy. August was a wonderful person and a great educator. We are thankful that we had an opportunity to know him and work with him. He added much to the Bismarck School system and to the lives of all who worked with him. He will be sorely missed.
Lowell & Karen Jensen
Kristi Haadem (Turnquist)
January 23, 2008
I hope that through the years I can be half the teacher and role model "Mr. Ritter" was. He will always be Mr. Ritter to me. Darcy, you and the whole family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Brenda Wahlman
January 23, 2008
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Mr. Ritter was my principal in grade school and I knew Darcy and Brent many years back. Mr. Ritter was a great educator.
VANGIE MOECKEL
January 21, 2008
Dear patty,
I HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF US 4, LAUGHTER TO KNOW END.. August was a great man of character. Pat, CHERISH ALL THOSE MEMORIES AND MAY GOD TRULY BLESS AND EASE YOUR PAIN..
Arlene Lauf
January 21, 2008
Working for "Mr. Ritter" was one of the many blessings of my life. We moved to Bismarck in 1986 and I was hired to work as a secretary at Northridge School. What a great experience! August was such a professional person and commanded respect from all of us, which we gave him. The "Northridge family" was very fortunate to have such a great mentor. We will truly miss him.
Fred and Della Kraft
January 20, 2008
Patty and family
Want you to know we will be thinking of you with prayer at this time with the lossof Agust. He was a great educator and our children surely enjoyed his leadership and loyalty to all his students at Northridge elementary. He will greatly missed.
Virginia (Breitling/Giedt) and Bill Thompson
January 20, 2008
Dear Pat and family, Bill and I express our sympathy to you in the loss of August. Pat, my dear cousin, you and August in your delightful opposite ways, gave so much to my parents while they lived in Bismarck. You were truly truly a one of a kind couple. Always the dignified capable educator, August will obviously be missed by many in ND. May your proud and fond memories of him sustain you.
Beverly Sandness
January 19, 2008
Dear Pat and families,
I have many memories of working with August at Northridge (and after his retirement on several occasions). These fond recollections bring relief in this time of grief. May you find comfort and peace in knowing how much we who all worked with him (or for him)value him as an individual and as a professional. He made a difference! His legacy means more than looking back and remembering the blessings. It also means looking ahead and recognizing that August has gone before us and has given us a pathway to follow. For all that we can look back on...for all that we can look forward to...may your heart find true comfort and hope.
Ramona Gieszler
January 19, 2008
Pat,James, Esther and family Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you with caring thoughts and prayers.
John and Ann Giedt
January 19, 2008
Patty, please accept our deepest sympathies. We have many fond memories of you and August. We especially remember your and August's loving support and assistance to John's parents. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.
sandy wells
January 19, 2008
August was one of the fine educators of North Dakota. He worked well past his retirement to continue to bring education to the high point it needs to be.
sandy horst
Lee Malusky
January 19, 2008
It is difficult to find the words that say the things I can only hope will comfort you. We all lost a good friend in him and we too will miss him profoundly.
Lee Malusky
January 19, 2008
It is difficult to find words that say the things I can only hope will comfort you. We will always remember August with affection and his ready smile. We all lost a good friend in him and we too will miss him profoundly.
Pam Dewald
January 19, 2008
We knew Mr. Ritter, as we called him, when he was principal at Northridge. He had the respect of my boys when they went there. We now live in Allen, TX, but we still remember him fondly. Our sincere sympathy to the family.
Mark, Pam, Jeremy & Dustin Dewald
Dan/Carol Baillie
January 19, 2008
Esther and Terry
We are so sorry.We didn't realize how seriously ill your brother was Esther. Please know our thoughts are with you and your family.
Dan and Carol
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