Howard D. Kitchen
A funeral service for Howard D. Kitchen, 88, Dickinson, is 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, at Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Dickinson, with Deacon Ron Keller celebrating.
- Howard D. Kitchen
A funeral service for Howard D. Kitchen, 88, Dickinson, is 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, at Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Dickinson, with Deacon Ron Keller celebrating. Military rites will be provided by the Dickinson Honor Guard. Burial will take place later this spring at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Dickinson.
Visitation for Howard is noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at Stevenson Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Howard died Sunday, March 17, at St. Alexius’s Hospital, Bismarck.
Howard Duane Kitchen was born Sept. 28, 1924, in Versippi Township, Dickinson. Howard was the youngest child of Orville and Rose (Birk) Kitchen. He was raised on a homestead farm northeast of Dickinson and attended Versippi School District.
Howard moved to Dickinson with his mother and sisters following his father’s death, attended Roosevelt school and graduated from Central High in 1942. Following graduation, he and his mother moved to Seattle, where he worked at the government supply depot.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1944 and served honorably in the Pacific Theater as a technician with Headquarters Company of the 710th Tank Battalion.
After his military service, Howard returned to Dickinson to complete his bachelor’s degree in education.
Howard married Leatrice Drury on April 10, 1948, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dickinson.
He valued education and received his master’s degree from Northern State College in Aberdeen, S.D.
Howard always enjoyed the young people he was involved with through coaching, teaching and administration service. Howard and his family spent eight years in New Salem, seven years in Ellendale, one year in Mandaree and many years in Dickinson.
In addition to being a professor at Dickinson State, Howard was the director of the student center, retiring in 1987.
Howard was a gifted athlete and has always enjoyed sports, following his children and grandchildren to all their events. He earned varsity letters himself at Central High as halfback in football. Howard was almost always outweighed by opposing linemen and “Kitch” won the respect of coaches throughout the conference for his play on both offense and defense.
He was selected all-conference guard in the North Dakota Intercollegiate conference two consecutive years and was also inducted into the Dickinson State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.
Howard was an avid golfer, enjoyed western novels, wood working, playing piano, singing and he was a passionate sports fan. All family members were blessed with Howard’s beautiful creations in wood. All of his friends at the golf course and the many foursomes were very special to him.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who was always there for his family. His family was very important to him and he cherished the time spent with each of them.
Howard is survived by his wife, Leatrice; their five children, Mike (Phyllis) Kitchen, Lovell, Wyo., Kathy Bacon, Dickinson, Donna (Dean) Knutson, Dunn Center, Bob (Becky) Kitchen, Dickinson, and Jim Kitchen, St. Charles, Mo. Howard is grandfather to nine grandchildren: Tammy (Joel) Nelson, Marion, S.D., Lori (Doug) Howard, Fargo, Lisa (Jeff) Peterson, Colorado Springs, Colo., Dawn (Jason) Geer, White Fish, Mont., Tanner (Jodie) Bang, Parker, Colo., Levi (Shauna) Bang, Killdeer, KatieLee Kitchen, St Charles, Mo., Seth Kitchen, St. Charles, and Kaymen Kitchen, Dickinson, and 15 great-grandchildren.
His parents; three brothers, Dywane, Clayton and Orville Kitchen; and three sisters, Helen Zahnow, Betty Cranford and Ethel Brown preceded him in death.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Howard’s honor may be made to the Heart River Golf Course.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.
Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson
Tags: obituaries
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