Frederick John Rittershaus died peacefully at The Neighborhoods with his wife by his side in Brookings, SD on November, 19 2025. Services were held Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookings.
Fred was born the son of John and Amelia Rittershaus on January 3, 1934 in Menno, SD. He grew up in Freeman where he graduated from Freeman High School in 1952 and Freeman Junior College in 1953. He enlisted in the South Dakota Air National Guard in 1953 and served until his retirement in 1989 as a Brigadier General and the South Dakota Assistant Adjutant General. He earned Bachelors (1958) and Masters (1962) of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from South Dakota State University (SDSU), where he also served as a graduate instructor and associate professor from 1958 – 1964. In 1959, he began his engineering career at Banner Associates, where he worked until his retirement in 1996 as the
Chairman of the Board.
He married Ardyne Marie Eggert on August 26, 1961. They made their home in Brookings throughout their 64 years of loving marriage, where they raised three children: Mary, John, and Bill. Fred was a dedicated member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, where he served on the finance and building committees. Fred was active in numerous professional and community services throughout his life, some of which include: National Director of American Consulting Engineers Council, State President & Director of the South Dakota Engineering Society, Director & President of the Brookings Chamber of Commerce, Director & President Brookings Rotary Club, Director & Vice-Chairman of ADVANCE Board of Directors, Director & Chairman of Brookings United Retirement Center Board, and numerous SDSU Councils & Committees.
Fred enjoyed spending time with friends, attending SDSU sporting & music events, playing bridge, gardening, and traveling. Above all, he loved his time with his family.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Irma Cordelia Peabody and Eugenia Rae Himes. Survivors include his wife, Ardyne; three children: Mary (Grant) Gubbrud, John (Angie) Rittershaus, and Bill (Gina) Rittershaus; four grandchildren: Jacob (Mackayla) Gubbrud, Dylan Rittershaus, Grace Gubbrud, and Dalton Rittershaus; and two great grandchildren: Magdalene Gubbrud and Eden Gubbrud.
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