Roy Dittus

Grandpa Roy Dittus stood the watch until being relieved at the age of 98 on Friday, October 18, 2019, surrounded by the family that loved him dearly.  He was truly one of The Greatest Generation and exemplified love of his God, his Country and his family each day.

Roy Vernon Dittus was born on the family farm in Morton County, North Dakota on January 10, 1921 to John A. and Rosa (DelaBarre) Dittus.  He was one of five children, with siblings Ruth, Erma, Warren, and Rubye.  He attended country school and graduated from Glen Ullin High School in 1938.  After graduating, he worked in Alvin Klick’s grocery store in Beulah until he was called to serve his country during World War II, enlisting in the United States Navy.  Being fluent in German, the Navy, in its infinite wisdom, assigned him to the Pacific Fleet.  He began his duty in the South Pacific by helping establish a Navy hospital on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, and continued his service as a Pharmacist’s Mate First Class (PhM1c) aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6).  During the island-hopping campaign in the South Pacific, he was also assigned as a hospital corpsman to United States Marine Corps units making beach assaults.

After the war ended, Roy returned home to begin the rest of his life.  He went to school on the GI Bill – first spending two years at Jamestown College and then earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota, graduating with honors in 1949.  Roy married his first love, Olivia Amanda Haring, on May 30, 1954, and together they operated Dittus Funeral Home in Hebron and Hardware Plumbing & Heating Company in Glen Ullin.  In 1959, they became loving parents to a son, Timothy Roy, by opening their hearts to him at Children’s Village.  Roy was active in the United Church of Christ and a variety of professional, civic, service and philanthropic organizations.  They enjoyed the community of Glen Ullin for their entire married lives and made many life-long friends.  Olivia passed in 1989, shortly after celebrating their 35^th wedding anniversary.

Roy married his second love, Martha K. (Jose) Unrath Bauer, on March 16, 1991 and expanded his family to include son Vernon (DeLoris) Unrath and daughter Carol (Marlin) Sapp and their children.  They enjoyed 28 years together until Martha’s death at age 100 on April 9, 2019.  Roy and Martha spent the last 10 years at Primrose Retirement Community in Bismarck and enjoyed many new and wonderful friends and the great staff, along with many activities.

Roy was preceded in death by his sister Ruth, his parents, his wives Olivia and Martha, Vernon’s first wife DeLoris, sister Erma and brother-in-law Karl Weber, brother Warren, and brother-in-law Rueben Knodel.  Left to cherish his memory are: Tim (Sandy) Dittus, and their daughters Johanna and Chrissy; Vernon (Paulette) Unrath, and children Craig (Melissa) Unrath and Stephanie (Jason) Bentz; Carol (Marlin) Sapp, and children Chad (Kayla) Oberlander and Dawn (Chris) Hanson; eight great grandchildren; five great, great grandchildren; his sister-in-law Violet (Mindt) Dittus; his baby sister Rubye Knodel; and his nieces and nephews, all of whom were very special to him.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2019 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Services with a Masonic Service at 4:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 6:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 28, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Mandan United Methodist Church with Internment to follow at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery at 1:00 p.m.

The family expresses their gratitude to the staff of Primrose Retirement Community and St. Gabriel’s Community for the loving care they provided to Roy.  Any memorials in Roy’s memory are preferred to the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery Foundation, St. Gabriel’s Foundation, or the Mandan United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.