Derrel D. Britsch
May 11, 1936-Jan. 30, 2022
Derrel D. Britsch, 85, a
longtime businessman
from Devils Lake, ND
passed away on Sunday,
January 30, 2022, at his
home with loving family
at his side.
Visitation will be at the
Gilbertson Funeral Home
on Sunday, February 6,
2022, from 2:00 p.m. until
4:00 p.m. with a time of
prayer and remembrance
at 4:00 p.m. Funeral
Services will be on Mon-
day, February 7 at 10:30
a.m. at Our Savior’s Luth-
eran Church, Devils Lake,
ND with Reverend JoHan-
na Buchholz officiating.
Derrel will be laid to rest
with Military Honors at
the Devils Lake Cemetery.
Please keep in mind the
safety and health of your-
self and others when at-
tending the services. The
funeral service will be live
streamed on face
book.com/oslcdevilslake.
Derrel was born on May
11, 1936, at Rugby, ND,
the son of Elmer and Nell
(Hanson) Britsch. He was
raised in York, ND the
first ten years of his life.
When he was in the
fourth grade, his family
moved to Towner, ND.
Derrel graduated from
Towner High School as
Salutatorian of the class of
1954. He lettered in foot-
ball and basketball, parti-
cipated in baseball, and
was tough to beat in the
game of ping-pong.
Derrel continued his
education at the North
Dakota School of Forestry
in Bottineau where he
again lettered in football
and basketball. Derrel
served in the North Dako-
ta National Guard out of
Bottineau prior to putting
his continued education
on hold and enlisted in
the United States Army in
1957. He honorably and
proudly served his coun-
try, first at Fort Leonard
Wood, MO then three
years in Milwaukee, WI.
He served with the 852
Missile Battalion and was
honorably discharged
with the rank of Sergeant.
Derrel was united in
marriage to the love of his
life, Anne Ritterman on
September 8, 1957, at
Leeds Lutheran Church.
They would establish
their home in Milwaukee,
where their two daughters
were born. After his
discharge, the family
moved to Hansboro, ND
and Derrel worked for
Standard Oil for three
years. In anticipation of
the girls starting school,
the family moved to Can-
do, ND for six months be-
fore Derrel and Anne de-
cided it was time to start
the next chapter of their
life.
Derrel attended UND to
pursue a degree in ac-
counting. He earned his
accounting degree, passed
the CPA exam, and began
a 54 year career as a CPA.
His first job was as an ac-
countant for Haskins and
Sells in Portland, OR for
three years, and then
moved the family to Min-
neapolis, MN where he
was employed by Broeker
Hendrickson and Com-
pany and welcomed their
son to the family.
Derrel opened his first
accounting firm in Sta-
ples, MN where he and
Anne worked side-by-side
and raised their family for
the next six years. In
1976, the family moved to
Devils Lake, ND and
would call it home. Derrel
was the City Auditor and
then the accountant for
Porter Brothers in Minot,
ND. In 1978, Derrel would
open his own CPA firm in
Devils Lake, which has
continued through the
years with the help, love,
and support of Anne and
his family, and with the
addition of his son Steve
in partnership in 1994.
Derrel retired in 2019, but
the firm remains a thriv-
ing business in the Devils
Lake community. His
beloved Anne died on De-
cember 2, 2006.
Derrel was an active
member of Our Savior’s
Lutheran Church and
served on the church
council. He was chairman
of the District 15 Republi-
cans and was a North
Dakota Delegate to the Na-
tional Republican Con-
vention in 1984. Derrel
was a member of the
North Dakota Society of
CPAs and was honored by
the society for 50 years of
membership. He also en-
joyed membership in the
ELKS Lodge and was a
proud graduate of UND,
as were all his children,
and he was an ardent sup-
porter of UND athletics,
especially the hockey
team.
Derrel was all about ser-
vice and family. He
served his country, he
served his community,
and he always provided
for his family. He was the
first in his family to at-
tend college and to serve
in the Armed Forces. His
family meant the world to
him and his grandchil-
dren were his pride and
joy. He enjoyed many
trips with Anne and his
family over the years. He
also treasured his many
friendships.
Derrel’s loving family
include his children Su-
san and her husband Jef-
frey Olson of Devils Lake,
Sheryl Britsch of Maple
Grove, MN, and Steven
Britsch and his wife Bar-
bara also of Devils Lake;
grandchildren James Ol-
son, Fargo, ND, Michael
Olson, Devils Lake,
Matthew Britsch and Kay-
la Britsch both Devils
Lake; brothers-in-law and
sisters-in-law Roy
Gunderson, Buffalo, WY,
Charles and Judi Ritter-
man, Fargo, ND, Janet
Nybo, York, ND, and Le-
land Ritterman, Leeds,
ND; many nieces,
nephews, cousins, and
their families.
He is welcomed home
by his Lord and Savior,
his parents, wife Anne,
infant daughter, brother
Arland Britsch, and sis-
ters Marlys Aiello, Travis
Gunderson, and Detta Joy
Britsch.
Our beloved Derrel will
be forever loved, forever
missed, and forever in our
hearts.