Merle H. Rittel

Merle Harvey Rittel was born March 28, 1919, at Gregory, South Dakota, to Ella and Sol Rittel.  As a boy he moved with his parents to Wanblee, South Dakota, where he grew up and graduated from high school.

On July 14, 1941, he was united in marriage to Florence Hellmers at Sundance, Wyoming.

They ranched in the Belvidere area until 1945, when they moved into Belvidere and he was in the construction business from 1945 to 1970.  They owned and operated the Double H Cafe in Belvidere from 1970 until retiring in 1978.

Merle is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Allen (Diane) Badure of Belvidere, and Mrs. Mike (Judy) Brodsky and Sharon Teets of Grand Island, Nebraska; three grandsons; his mother, Ella Rittel of Kadoka; two brothers, Bob Rittel of Rapid City, and Niel Rittel, in Wyoming; four sisters, Mrs. Lloyd (Betty) Griswold of Kadoka, Mrs. Andy (Mary Jane) Hemmingson of Kadoka, Mrs. Ronald (Darlene) McCormick of Pierre, and Mrs. Oscar (Marcelene) Kukal of Walla Walla, Washington.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence, in 1980.

A memorial has been established to the Kadoka Ambulance Service and the Belvidere Presbyterian Church.

Funeral Services
Tuesday, May 15, 1984
2:00 p.m.
Presbyterian Church
Belvidere, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Gary McCubbin
Reverend Eugene Bushnell

Music
Sidney Iwan - Organist
Jill Eckert - Vocalist

Active Pallbearers
Charles Brunson - Lonnie Carlson
Clair Bitting - Dean Blom
Francis Osborn - Ted Vober

Honorary Pallbearers
John Bonenberger - Bud Peters
Vern Sampson - Carl Kusiek
Raymond Thomas - Fredy Peters
And All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

Interment
Belvidere Cemetery
Belvidere, South Dakota

Service Details

Funeral Services
Tuesday, May 15, 1984
2:00 p.m.
Presbyterian Church in Belvidere