Roger Ritterbush

Funeral services for Roger Ritterbush were held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Mills Community Church in Mills, NE, with Pastor Kenley Udd officiating.

Casket bearers were Shawn Ritterbush, Andrew Armitage, Chrystian Armitage, Cameron Armitage, Kody Willard, and Bailey Ritterbush. Honorary casket bearers were Roger’s friends and neighbors.

Interment was in the Olive Branch Cemetery in Mills, NE. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Roger Leroy Ritterbush was born October 20, 1948, in Gregory, SD, to Clayton and Getha (Gates) Ritterbush. Roger passed away April 16, 2024, at his home in Mills, Nebraska, at the age of 75.

Roger grew up on the family farm with his brothers Bruce and Scott. He helped out with farming chores while attending school. During his high school years, he began dating Pamela Cousins. He graduated from high school in Springview, NE. Right after graduation Roger and Pam were married and moved to Denver, CO. In Denver, Roger started working toward a college degree in auto body. A short while after moving to Denver, Roger and Pam became parents of a daughter they named Lori. Roger studied during the day and delivered pizza in the evening to help support his family. When Roger graduated from college with an Associates degree in auto body they moved to Viborg, SD, to start his auto body career. A few years later the body shop burned down, so they moved to Marion, SD, for about a year before moving to Valentine, NE, finally settling in Bassett, working at Bassett Body and Glass. It was at that time that Roger started working on his 1967 Ford Fairlane GT convertible, which was built from the frame up. He spent many evenings at work putting his car together. Soon after, they had a son named Shawn.

Roger later moved to Stanton to work for Harold Benedict at his auto body shop. It was during that time Roger and Pam divorced, and he moved to Norfolk to work at Meier Auto Body. Roger then moved to Atkinson to be close to family and worked for Don Milner doing auto body. A few years later he started to work for Galyons Auto doing auto body. He retired from auto body due to health reasons. Roger then moved back to the family farm where he spent the rest of his life.

In Roger’s free time he worked on his Ford Fairlane. Once it was completed, he showed it off at numerous car shows around Nebraska and South Dakota. There wasn’t a car show he missed. He was very proud of his car and loved to show it off. He would often walk away with a trophy or even win best of show. His children and grandchildren would always come and help get the Fairlane ready for show. Roger had many trophies and plaques that he displayed proudly during the show.

Later on, Roger started building model airplanes from just blueprints on the wall. He would use balsa wood to form each piece because each piece had to fit just right in its place. He spent many hours on his computer looking for parts to buy for his plane. Roger had already completed two planes and was working on his third at the time of his death.

Roger enjoyed spending time talking to friends that would stop over at the farm. He was also a judge at several car shows in O’Neill.

He is preceded in death by his parents Clayton and Getha Ritterbush; grandparents Emil and Bessie Ritterbush, and Gilbert and Olive Gates.

He is survived by his children Lori Armitage (Cory Stickley) and Shawn Ritterbush; six grandchildren: Andrew (Courteney) Armitage, Chrystian Armitage (Brea Hostert), Cameron Armitage (Bella Steskal), Nicole (Logan) Laughlin, Bailey Ritterbush, and Hannah (Kody) Willard; three great-grandchildren; and two brothers Bruce and Scott Ritterbush.