Michael Sitter

Sitter

Michael R. Sitter

Feb. 11, 1920 – Nov. 14, 2019

Michael R Sitter, 99, passed away peacefully in his sleep Thursday evening, November 14, 2019, in his Granville home from congestive heart failure and lung cancer. Three of his four children and a granddaughter were able to be in attendance.

Mike was born on February 11, 1920, the fourth of eight children to Nicholas and Helena Burckhard) Sitter in Berwick, Pierce County, North Dakota. He married Alice Lueck on May 17, 1946, in Glendive, MT. Throughout the years, Mike worked various jobs and called himself a “Jack of all Trades, Master of None.” He farmed with his parents until he bought his own farm East of Granville in 1949 where he and Alice

raised their five children. Mike worked as a carpenter and then transitioned to a steel worker where he helped build the former Midwest Federal Building on First Street in Minot, ND. He also worked for Massy Ferguson along with his oldest son, Gailen. When working at International Harvester of Minot, he shattered his elbow while loading equipment on a train flatbed. Then he spent a few years driving a taxi while his arm was impaired. In September of 1970 Mike and Alice and their two youngest children moved into town so Mike could work as a custodian at Granville Public School. Later he would work at Lockheed and St. Joseph Hospital in Minot, and the Rugby Hospital. While working at Lockheed, he was affectionately known as “5:00 Mike,” due to the fact that at quitting time, when he would get paid, he would dash over to Muus Lumber, before they closed, to pick up supplies for the house he and his wife, Alice, were building in Granville. They built the house as they could pay for it, and when completed it was COMPLETELY paid for. In 1975 Mike added to his workload as Mayor of Granville and was instrumental in getting the main streets paved.

Mike was a member of the Granville First Lutheran Church but attended services at Hope Congregational Church if the service was earlier than the Lutheran Church so he and friends could head over to Deering for lunch.

Neighbors and relatives would look forward to the sausages Mike would make when butchering. He had great rhythm and enjoyed jamming with friends and even played spoons with his brother Danny’s band, “The Misfits,” when he was in Minneapolis. Later, he would trade in his spoons for cow bones. He liked fishing, creating wood items and helping neighbors and friends. Mostly, he loved to dance, being a

member of the Northwest Polkateers, he never lacked a partner. He also enjoyed playing cards; most recently he could be found at the Senior Citizen Center in Granville, ND, in the afternoons playing pinochle. He was also a lifetime member of the Minot Moose Lodge.

Mike is survived by four of his children: son Larry (Patricia) Sitter of Rolla, ND; daughters Gloria (Ken) Kraft of Bismarck, ND, Lona Hatfield of Lee’s Summit, MO, and Sharon Sitter of Glenburn, ND; 12

grandchildren: Kip Kraft of Bismarck, ND, Lisa (Al) DeWall of Bismarck, ND, LeAnn (Leonard) Bornemann of Center, ND, Lorisa (Terry) Newman of Beulah, ND, Lynelle Kraft of Bismarck, ND, Kyle (Alexa) Kraft of Fargo, ND, June Sitter of Denver, CO, Tela Mollohan of Macon, GA, CJ Sitter of Grand Forks, ND, Sean (Alexandria) Hatfield of Raytown, MO, Caleb Hatfield of Lee’s Summit, MO, Travis (Bangba) Sitter of Omaha, NE; Great-grandchildren: Benjamin Schestler of Minot, ND, McKenzie DeWall of Bismarck, ND, Mara Bornemann of Fargo, ND, Aubrey Bornemann and Evan Bornemann of Center, ND, Kael Newman, Nora Newman, Paige Newman & Brynn Newman of Beulah, ND, Cheyenne (Jared) Rardin of Emerado, ND, Lakota Mollohan and Stetson Mollohan of Davenport, ND, Mandy Sitter and Ethan Sitter of Omaha ND; sister-in-law Magdalena Sitter of Rugby; Special Friends; Rose Bailey, Delano Drader, Clarine Pottenger, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents: Nick and Helen Sitter; wife Alice; son Gailen Sitter; great-grandchildren: Isabella Newman and a sibling lost to miscarriage; brothers and sisters-in-law: Joseph (Rae) Sitter, Anton Sitter and Daniel Sitter; sisters and brothers-in-law: Martina (George) Lesmeister, Rose (Maurice) Trumm, Theresa (Sylvester) Gefroh and Marian Nichols.

Visitation: 4 pm 6 pm Monday at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home (21 Third Ave SW) Minot, ND

Funeral: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 2 pm First Lutheran Church (101 Third Street) of Granville, ND

Internment: Granville Cemetery

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at thompsonlarson.com

Thompson Larson, Minot ND www.thompsonlarson.com