John Thor Ritland

John Thor Ritland, 36, of Great Falls, drowned June 27 in the Missouri River in Great Falls.
His memorial service is 11 a.m. Monday at Bethel Lutheran Church, with burial in Highland Cemetery. Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory is handling arrangements.
John is survived by his wife Nikki (Kuntz) Ritland; children Michael, Matthew and Kira; his father John (Harriet) Ritland of Florida; a brother, Dale (Shantell) Ritland of Billings, two grandmothers, Phyliss Wood of Great Falls and Florence Wilmes of Chester; several aunts and cousins. John also had a large extended family: mother-in-law Judy Kuntz; brother-in-law Tim Kuntz; sisters-in-law Amy Kuntz and Jill Kuntz, all of Great Falls, and sister-in-law Julie (Greg) Monk of Stevensville, Mont.
John was born Oct. 4, 1972, in Jacksonville, Fla., to John and Mary Kay Ritland. He was the second of two children. He moved to Great Falls in 1983 with his mother and brother to join family already living in Great Falls. He attended elementary school and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1990.
In 1999, he married Nikki Kuntz, and in 2004, welcomed their first son, John Michael. In 2005, a second son, Matthew, came into their lives. In 2007, they were blessed with a little girl, Kira Marie, who was the light of her father's eyes. John very much enjoyed being a father and welcomed every challenge that parenthood brought.
John worked for Sam's Club in the meat department for 11 years. It was a job that he loved and looked forward to going to every day.
John was a laid-back person and his "go with the flow" attitude came in handy with his large family. His hobbies included camping, reading, puttering around his garage, and spending time with his family. He loved the Jacksonville Jaguars and could be seen every Sunday decked out in full Jaguar attire. John was very close to his in-laws and enjoyed sitting around with them playing games, watching scary movies or doing projects for his mother-in-law.
At age 26, John was diagnosed with Huntington's disease. The disease has taken several of John's family members, including his mother, Mary Kay Ritland; a grandfather, three aunts and a cousin. Because of this disease, John chose to take his own life.
Memorials are suggested to John's children at Great Falls Teachers Federal Credit Union in Great Falls.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.