Leland “Lee” M. Ritterman, 81, of Leeds, ND passed away Thursday, June 13, 2024, surrounded by his loving family and staff at SMP Health St. Catherine’s Nursing Home in Fargo, ND. Funeral Services were held Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at the Leeds Lutheran Church in Leeds, ND, with Pastor Sharon Baker officiating. Visitation followed by a Prayer Service was Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at the Leeds Lutheran Church. Burial was at the Leeds Lutheran Cemetery. Military Honors were be provided by the Leeds American Legion Post #101, Sidney Britsch American Legion Post #268 of York, Robert Tovsrud VFW Post #757 of Harlow and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.
Lee was born on November 24, 1942, in Rugby, ND, to Rudolph “Rudy” and Iona (Rude) Ritterman. He attended school in York and Leeds and graduated in 1961. After graduating, he served in the United States Army where he was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana and served as a clerk-typist. He was honorably discharged in 1964 and was a proud member of the York American Legion up until his death. Lee married Judy (Bonnet) on September, 2, 1967, at York Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three daughters, Pam, Shelly, and Stephanie.
Lee started his career in trucking, driving for Benson County and eventually he became self-employed, operating Lee’s Trucking up until his retirement. Briefly during his retirement, he did continue to drive truck for Ritterman Trucking, owned by his nephews.
Lee was a “fixer,” you name it, he could fix it from his daughters’ curling irons to vacuum cleaners and everything in between. You could often find (or hear) Lee watching NASCAR races on Sunday afternoons and one of his memorable trips was attending a NASCAR race. He loved visiting his friends at Earl’s Bar over morning coffee or an evening drink. Hobbies included gardening, playing cards, sudoku, watching westerns, and meeting up with friends and family at the casino. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and loved joking around with them.
Lee is survived by his daughters, Pam Lee (Rob), Shelly (Mike) Kegley, and Stephanie (Patrick) Hockett; grandchildren, Kenadi (Jaxen) Jenson, Keringten (Kaleb) Haley, Kaden Lee, Makenah Bundy-Smith, Rebekah and Brody Kegley, and Rudee, Shea, and Ella Hockett; sister-in-law Judi Ritterman; brothers-in-law, Marv (Judi) Bonnett, Ron (Jan) Bonnet, Michael (Rita) Striha; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Judy; his parents, Rudy and Iona; his mother and father-in-law, Eleanor and Ed Striha; brothers, James, Phillip “Buddy”, Frank, Charles “Chuck”, Ronald; sisters, Anne “Susie” Britsch, Janet Nybo; sister-in-law, Carol Ritterman; brothers-in-law, Derrel Britsch, and Donald Nybo.
We are forever grateful to those who cared for Lee during his last few months including Heart of America Medical Center Hospice, Red River Valley Hospice, and SMP Health – St. Catherine South.
Arrangements are with the Nelson Funeral Home of Leeds, ND.
Online condolences may be left at www.nelsonfuneralhomesnd.com.
