Francis "Frank" Alvin Witte

Frank (Francis) A. Witte, 78, Fargo, ND passed from this life on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at St. Catherine’s South (Villa Maria) after a twenty-two-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Frank was born on July 15, 1945 to Wilma (Serum) and Alvin Witte in Fargo, ND. He was raised on a
farm near Mapleton, ND where he attended both grade school and high school, graduating as Valedictorian of his class. Frank enjoyed competing in high school sports, and the Mapleton class of 1963 won the Class C championship, the last year of Class C basketball in North Dakota. Frank then attended NDSU for three years. In 1966, Frank signed on with the National Guard unit in Valley City, ND. Basic Training brought him the honor of Outstanding Trainee in his Company. Upon his return from Basic and Advanced training, Frank began his work career as a Journeyman Carpenter. He had a brief stint at Boeing in Seattle before missing home and returning to Fargo. Frank was united in marriage to Patricia Gerlach on May 15, 1971 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo. In 1972, after the untimely death of his uncle, he joined his father Alvin on the family farm. Frank and Pat moved to Hillsboro in 1983 to expand the business, which included raising sugar beets. Frank retired from farming in 2001 and quickly transitioned to operating his own independent rim and tire business. Frank and Pat spent winters in Tucson, Arizona from 2011 to 2015 before the effects of Parkinson’s made travel too difficult.

Frank was a man of many interests and talents, from fixing and racing cars to playing poker with friends. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and tooling around in his Corvettes.

Frank is survived by his wife, Patricia (Gerlach) Witte and two children, Beth Witte-Neuman (Brian Neuman) of Tucson, Arizona, and Bret Witte (Amy Knight) of Fargo, as well as five grandchildren, Isabella, Peighton, Ethan, Madison, and Tatum. He is also survived by two sisters, Claudia Wilson of Omaha, NE, and Marion Witte of Austin, TX, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Frank was preceded in death by his mother and father.

Services will be held at 11am on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Nativity Church of Fargo, presided over by Father Bill Gerlach. Visitation will be held from 5-7pm on Friday, September 29th at Boulger Funeral Home, with a prayer service beginning at 7pm.

The family would like to thank the staff at St Catherine’s South for their exceptional care of Frank. They have requested memorials be sent to Hospice of the Red River Valley or Great Plains Food Bank.