Curtis E. Witte | 1954 - 2025
Posted Jul 30, 2025 | 4:40 PM by Megan Sexton / 50 views
PIERRE, SD – Curtis Edward Witte passed away at the age of 71 on June 15, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30pm, Tuesday, June 24 2025 at Feigum Funeral Home. Inurnment services with military honors will take place at Black Hill National Cemetery in Sturgis at 11:00am Mountain time on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Curtis was born on April 4, 1954, in Isabel, to parents Edward and Alice (Jung) Witte, and flourished on the expanses of a farm northwest of Timber Lake. He carried with him the lessons learned in the fields and schoolhouses of his youth, where he had the fortune to be taught by Hazel Stadel at Little Oak. Curtis’s formative years bore the fruits of dedication and resilience, culminating in his graduation from Timber Lake High School in 1972.
Curtis’s work ethic was evident from the age of twelve when he began assisting farmers and ranchers in the Glad Valley region and further refined his skills with combine crews in the summers. Following his high school graduation, he served the community through his work at the Texaco Station in Timber Lake. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Elizabeth (Sue) Veit, in December of 1972, a meeting that led them down the aisle in September of 1973.
The couple was blessed with their cherished daughter, Kathryn (Kate) Witte Wiedrich, who later graced their lives with two grandchildren, Cheyenne (Hannah) and Frank. Curtis’s unwavering support for his family and country was evident as he enlisted in the Army in 1975, becoming a prison guard at Ft. Leavenworth. The family’s bond only strengthened during their three-year stay before heading to Bison, SD, where Curtis served the State with the same steadfast commitment found in every endeavor of his life.
An ever-evolving individual, Curtis, alongside Sue, embarked on an educational journey in 1982, pursuing higher education at Springfield and later at Warrensburg, MO, after Springfield closed. Demonstrating his tireless commitment to growth and development, Curtis received a BS in facility management in 1986. The family then moved to Omaha, where Curtis showcased his expertise working for HVAC companies and later as a facility manager for Physicians Mutual. Their journey eventually led them to Pierre, where he joined the Pierre School District, touching the lives of many.
Curtis began his tenure at Johnson Controls in November 1994, where he explored the vastness of South Dakota, making his mark on commercial HVAC systems before retiring in 2018. Even in retirement, he couldn’t resist the call to mentor and interact with the next generation, returning to work with the schools during the summers, where he was esteemed by his colleagues.
When Curtis’s commitments to work and family allowed, he found much joy in woodworking, metal work, recycling, fishing and teaching his child and grandchildren the satisfaction found through working hard.
He is lovingly remembered by his devoted wife of nearly 52 years, Sue; daughter Kathryn (Kate); grandchildren Cheyenne (Hannah) and Frank; sisters Sherry Witte, Roxy (Craig) Hanson, Lynn Hayward, Leann (Vern) Hintz; brother Roger (Samantha) Witte; and a host of aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends who each held a special place in his life.
A memorial fund in Curtis’s name has been established at First Dakota National Bank located at 322 S Coteau St, Pierre, SD 57501.
