Lynette Fitterer

A Mass of Christian Burial for Lynette M. Fitterer, 60, of New Salem, will be held at 10:30 a.m. CT., Friday June 7, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glen Ullin with Father Gary Benz celebrating. Burial will take place in St. Pius Catholic Cemetery in New Salem.

Visitation for Lynette will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 6, 2024 at the church with a Rosary and Vigil being held at 6:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass.

Lynette passed away of natural causes Monday, June 3, 2024 at her home in New Salem.

Lynette Marie was born March 11, 1964 in Bismarck, the daughter of Ernest and Mary Ann (Havelka) Fitterer.  She was raised and educated in Glen Ullin, where she graduated from high school in 1982.  She earned her Associates Degree in Education from Bismarck State College in 1984, her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Jamestown College in 1987, and completed the Master’s Degree program in Education from North Dakota State University, Fargo in 1989.

Lynette was a sports enthusiast and participated in athletics starting at a young age.  She played softball for the Bank of Glen Ullin, Bismarck Amusement, Kary’s Kitchen, Hanson Distributing (winning the McQuade’s Softball Tournament 2 years in a row) and the Heart Butte Women’s Softball Old Pro team.  She also served as a softball umpire for 25 years in the Bismarck-Mandan area and Fargo.  The highlight of her umping career was being selected to work a National Tournament in Minot.  In high school, Lynette participated in basketball and track, where she was an All-Conference basketball player and a state qualifier in track.  She was recruited to Bismarck State College and Jamestown College on athletic scholarships.

While at Jamestown College and North Dakota State, Lynette had the opportunity to coach women’s basketball, cross country and track and field.  In 1989, she landed her first teaching position in Kulm, ND and also had teaching stints in New Salem, Center and Glen Ullin.  Along with her many teaching responsibilities, Lynette coached numerous age levels of boys and girls sports.  She also directed the summer baseball program in New Salem for 15 years.

 In 2009, after 16 years, Lynette opted out of teaching and took a position with Farmers Union Oil in New Salem.  A few years later the company adopted AgVantage Cooperative as their business name and Lynette worked in a number of capacities for the company.  In 2015, the company merged with Central Dakota Frontier and Lynette took over as the Retail Manager and held that position until her retirement. Lynette served as the Mayor of New Salem for many years where she dedicated her time improving the town.

Some of Lynette’s hobbies and interests included watching movies, cheering on the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs, playing blackjack, backyard fires, yard work and comedy.  Ask any of her friends or family and they will tell you that Lynette always had a good story or joke to tell.  Her quick wit and contagious laugh brought smiles to many.  She liked children, although she never had any of her own, they seemed to just gravitate to her.  She especially enjoyed her nieces and nephews, great-nieces and cousins.   Unlike the rest of the Fitterer family, Lynette never played cards and instead choose to entertain the younger relatives with made-up games, Donald Duck impersonations, and outdoor excursions.   For many years, she played Santa Claus for numerous families in the area.  She loved to help others and would give you the shirt off her back if she could.

Lynette is survived by her parents Ernest and Mary Ann Fitterer of Glen Ullin; sister, LaVonne (Todd) Sheldon of Baldwin; three brothers, Larry Fitterer (Vicki Braden) of Bismarck, Lyle (Lisa) Fitterer of Elm Grove, WI, and Scott Fitterer of Littleton, CO; eight nieces and nephews, Jamie (Joe) Schonert, Casey Sheldon (Hillary Podoll), Kelsey (Jaden) Deckert, Taylor Fitterer, Cody Brenneman, McKenna Fitterer, Annika Fitterer, and Jack Fitterer; and great-nieces, Kya and Klara Schonert, Emree and Ainslee Deckert, Mesa Sheldon, Skylar and Oakley Podoll and Addison Fitterer; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. 

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ed and Tillie Fitterer, and John and Mary Havelka; and numerous aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the New Salem Betterment Committee (c/o Vickie Keuther, PO Box 47, New Salem, ND 58563).