Dan Kittelson

Dan Howard Kittelson was born August 22, 1935 to E. N. Kittelson and Fern (Drake) Kittelson in Fargo, ND. Dan was raised and attended school in Enderlin, ND graduating from Enderlin High School in 1953. Dan was always an athlete - whether in his youth as the premier centerfielder for the Enderlin Indies, a perpetual force in Amateur Baseball in North Dakota, to being a coach and supporter of his sons' sports, or to recent fun when he and friend Orlan Neros would rip up the felt on the pool table one tournament after another! Tailgating at NDSU games, his intense competitive side relished an impromptu game of bags with random passersby who thought an old guy and his 30 something son would not be a challenge - only to walk away with well bruised egos! In 1952 at 17 Dan was chosen as an American Legion pickup player to play with the Enderlin Indies. Dan was a key player as the Indies won State Amateur Championships in '53 and '55 and earned him a contract to play with the Milwaukee Braves farm team D league in Lawton OK. Dan was tapped by Ellendale's team as a pickup player when they won the 1959 State Amateur Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team that year. In 1962 he earned another State Championship notch as a pickup player with the Fargo Emery Johnson team. So, in all, he was proud to have been a rostered player of five State Amateur Baseball titles, steadfastly asserting "that is a record!" Among the stories of his ND Amateur career was getting a hit - a solid double up the middle just out of the reach of the 6'4" legend Satchel Paige! After graduating Concordia College and after receiving his masters degree at South Dakota State University in 1958, he taught in three ND schools beginning a lifelong career in education. In 1963 he joined the staff at ND State School of Forestry - Bottineau Jr. College where he initiated the Wrestling program; taught PE and was Head Baseball coach through 1966. It was there he met his love and life partner Bonnie (Biberdorf) & they married in August 1966 - and this year celebrated 54 years of marriage. Together they moved to Waterloo, Iowa where Dan taught PE and was Assistant Wrestling & Track Coach at Waterloo East. The next four years were spent in Woodstock, IL where again Dan taught and coached. In 1971 Dan worked as Manager for a Burger King Franchise in DeKalb, IL and later attended Al Sommers Baseball Umpire School in Daytona, Florida. After Baseball Scout School he was a bird dog scout for the Montreal Expos, and ran several baseball camps for prospective players. Dan joined the staff of North Shore Driving School in Chicago, IL where he met friend & tutor, Warren Rumsfield, a pioneer and innovator of Space Cushion Driving tactics, who inspired him to make a difference in the industry. In October 1972 Dan moved his family to Fargo, ND where FM Driver Training was born! He and his wife Bonnie worked together in their business for 44 years. He always maintained that he was not rich, nor famous, but happy and complete in knowing he taught thousands of novice drivers tools to drive collision free! Many of those students will recall his famous quip "Check the intersection -- Bing! Bing! Bing!" all the while snapping his fingers to get their eyes moving where they should look! His joy and satisfaction in life was his Christian faith, family and tight friendships. He and his wife Bonnie were blessed with and raised four handsome sons who made a beautiful family experience. Attending baseball or softball games - Dan played with four teams of Old Pro softball too, post-baseball, or visits to MLB games or the boys' activities was a steady diet. Dan loved wrestling and attended nearly twenty years of NCAA National Wrestling Tournaments all over the US with his hometown friend Merle Foss. Valued friendships grew from sports as NDSU earned him seven trips to Texas with friend Hubie Bleese for Championship games. Dan stayed 'in the game' of baseball in virtual reality by coaching his teams aggressively in Fantasy Baseball for many winning seasons! Surviving are his wife Bonnie, Kelly (Anita) Kittelson, Fargo, ND; Joel Kittelson, Devils Lake, ND; Cris (Maria) Kittelson, Lake Geneva, WI and Reid (Carissa) Kittelson, Fargo, ND. Dearly loved grandchildren are grandsons Drew and Logan; step granddaughters Charleigh and Ava Kilgore, and granddaughter Kendall and grandson Barrett. He is also survived by his two sisters Gail Yost, Golden Valley, MN and Fay Kittelson (Nancy Vang) Brooklyn, NY. Memorials may be directed to Roger Maris Cancer Center, Enderlin Alumni Association, or Immanuel Lutheran Church. Funeral Service will be 11am Monday August 31, 2020 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Fargo with Pastor Bernie Worral officiating. Visitation in the Welcome Hall at 10am. Live streaming will take place at the beginning of services at Boulgerfuneralhome.com. Burial will be in Enderlin Cemetery Enderlin, ND at a later time. Arrangements entrusted to Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, Fargo. Online Guestbook: www.Boulgerfuneralhome.com