April 4, 1954 – June 15, 2025
Curtis Witte was born on April 4, 1954, in Isabel, to Edward and Alice (Jung) Witte, and lived on 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. He graduated from Timber Lake High School in 1972.
Curtis’s work ethic was evident from the age of 12 when he began assisting farmers and ranchers in the Glad Valley area and refined his skills with combine crews in the summers. Following high school, he worked 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.
Curtis’s 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 strengthened during their threeyear stay before heading to Bison, where Curtis worked for the State.
Curtis and Sue embarked on an educational journey in 1982, pursuing higher education at Springfield and later at Warrensburg, MO, after Springfield closed. Curtis received a BS in facility management in 1986. The family then moved to Omaha, NE where Curtis worked 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.
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.
Curtis found joy in woodworking, metal work, recycling, fishing and teaching his child and grandchildren the satisfaction found through working hard.
He is 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, and 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, 322 S Coteau St., Pierre, SD 57501.