David John Tritle

David John Tritle, 51, died in his home in De Smet on Sunday, November 7, 2021. He was born June 8, 1970, in Northfield, Minn. to Catherine (Fritz) Tritle and Robert Tritle.   

He traveled extensively during his father’s military career. David was a gifted athlete throughout his years at Hahn High School at Hahn Air Force Base in Germany, lettering in soccer, wrestling, football and track. He graduated from the University of South Dakota, and then received a master’s degree at SDSU and another at the University of Wisconsin. He worked as a laboratory scientist and a consumer consultant at Promega. He then joined the staff of The De Smet News as editor and general manager.

He married Stephanie Spieker of Clark in 1993. He adored the three children they had together.

Although he struggled every day with severe depression and social anxiety, he was compassionate and nonjudgmental of others. He never had a negative word to say about anyone or any situation he encountered. With his family he was very loving, knowledgeable with an intellectual bent. He loved get togethers with family that often had him laughing so hard he cried. He will be greatly missed by his immediate and extended family members. He treasured the times spent at his grandparent’s cabin in the Black Hills, where he was a passionate fisherman by the age of six. He enjoyed reading and working on his computer.

David was predeceased by his father, Robert L. Tritle; grandparents: John and Theresa Fritz and Mary and James Tritle; aunts Margaret Crow and Mary Mingo.

He is survived by his children Adam Tritle, Grace Tritle, and Simon Tritle of Madison, Wis.; mother, Catherine Tritle and her partner, Dale Blegen of Sioux Falls; brother, Nathan Tritle (Erika) and their children, Soren Tritle and Miriam Tritle, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; beloved aunts and uncles, Barbara Fritz of Chippewa Falls, Wis., Harry (Mary Ann) Fritz of Cheyenne, Wyo., John Fritz (Linda) of Aberdeen, Tom Tritle of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and 11 treasured cousins.

David will be interred with his father at Greenwood Cemetery in Brookings. Private family graveside services will take place on Friday at Greenwood Cemetery.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel       www.crawfordosthus.com

Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant