Stanley Witteman
July 1, 1933 – September 7, 2009

MOHALL - Stanley Alvin Witteman, 76, Minot, formerly of Mohall; died Monday, September 7, 2009, at a Minot hospital.

Stanley Alvin Witteman was born July 1, 1933 on a farm four miles north of Mohall in Hurley Township, Renville County to George and Cecelia (Triggs) Witteman.  He grew up on the farm and attended Mohall Public School graduating from MHS in 1951 as valedictorian of his class. He attended NDSU, joined the ROTC and became a member of the sharpshooter team.  He graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management. After graduation from NDSU, he became gainfully employed and moved to Port Richey, FL.  He then a took job in Chicago, IL and was employed for a short time by Ford Motor Co. building Pratt & Whitney Jet Engines in the old World War II Dodge Army Tank Plant.

Soon after that job, he entered the service as a 2nd Lieutenant and was stationed at Kirtland AFB Special Weapons Center in Albuquerque, NM.  During this time he witnessed the largest above-ground nuclear explosion in the United States.  In 1957 he moved to Mohall and started farming the family farm with his father, George.  He started preparing taxes for family and friends in 1959 and developed this talent into a small business service.

On July 9, 1960 he was united in marriage to Marilyn Einarson at Melankton Lutheran Church in Upham, ND.  The couple made their home in Mohall where he continued to farm and operate his tax preparation business.  After a lightning strike burned the family's ranch-style farmhouse to the ground in July of 1975, the family moved to a home within the city limits of Mohall.  Stanley retired from farming and made tax preparation his main career.  He also dabbled in mixing slip and pouring hobby ceramic molds and became very proficient at producing high quality greenware pieces for the Kountry Kiln ceramic shop operated by wife, Marilyn.  Stanley moved his tax service to Minot in the late 1990s.  His son, Mitch, joined Witteman Tax Service in the late fall of 2005.  Stanley resided in Minot and continued to prepare and file taxes until the time of his passing.

Stanley was involved in many organizations throughout the years, including the Masonic Lodge, where he was a past Worshipful Master; Eastern Star – Worthy Patron; Yellowjacket Booster Club; the American Legion; Elks; and Mohall Jaycees.  Currently Stanley was a founding member of the Northern Mini Racers RC Race Club in Minot.

Stanley pursued many passions. When the Jaycees were active in Mohall he was one of the many tractor pull enthusiasts and was there to add his two cents worth to the development of the sled. Another passion was racing.  He started with the big cars (along with his sister, Nyla, who raced in the Powder Puff division) which he raced around the track at the Mohall Fairgrounds.  Later in life, he downsized and began tweaking and racing 1/12 scale RC cars.  He shared his passion for RC racing with his son, Mitch, and his grandson, Steven.  However, their skills on the track soon surpassed his own.  As an engineer he was always in pursuit of building a better machine.  This lead to a passion for collecting lawn mowers and parts. Of course there were many “treasures” which Stan liked to collect, if only to save them from some ill fate.  He was an avid sports fan and supported the Yellowjackets, the Roughriders and more recently the Mavericks, no matter who was on the team.  He was known for hauling a van full of kids off to a football or basketball game in Tioga or Parshall or whatever town was on the schedule that week. When his kids and grandkids started playing sports, that was even better.  He was often surrounded by an entourage of kids as he handed out quillos after basketball camp.  He loved spending time with his children and his grandchildren especially during the annual “Trip with Grandpa” to the ND State Fair.

Family:  wife, Marilyn, Mohall; daughters, Vonda (Craig) Schmidt, Mohall, ND; Susan (Todd) Schoenberg, Mohall; son, Mitchell Witteman, Minot; grandchildren, Amy Schmidt, East Grand Forks; Steven Schmidt, Fargo; Kaitlyn “Kato” and Becca “Bec-meister” Schoenberg, Mohall; sister, Nyla (David) Switlick, Bismarck; nieces, Angela (Thomas) Roddy, Atlantic Highlands, NJ; Michaelanne “Cale” Jones, San Leandro, CA; nephew, William Montgomery “Monte” Jones, Bismarck; great-nieces and a great-nephew, Christopher Mohl, Bismarck; Jasmine Cato, Oakland, CA; and Zoe Roddy, Atlantic Highlands, NJ; and close family friends of Stanley's, John Reiser and Kirby Becker.

Stanley was preceded in death by his parents, and his son, Jay Mitchell Witteman.

Funeral:  Friday, September 11, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Mohall

Family Service:  Thursday, September 10, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church, Mohall

Burial:  Mohall Community Cemetery

Sign the Online Guestbook

View the Stan Witteman memorial folder  (These links will open in a new window)
Witteman folder outside
Witteman folder inside

Return to Obituaries