Julie Fritzemeier

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Obituary

Julie Fritzemeier, 68, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Saturday, January 13, at First United Methodist Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be Friday, January 12, from 5-7:00 PM at the Church with a 6:30 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Julia “Julie” Ellen Fritzemeier was born October 12, 1955, to Edwin and Maryellen (Wilson) Malde in Mitchell, South Dakota. She lived on the family farm southwest of Mitchell until the age of 7 when the family moved into town. She graduated from Mitchell High School in 1973, then attended Dakota Wesleyan University and graduated in 1977 with degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology.

After college, Julie move to Howard, South Dakota where she was a Title I Reading teacher, 6th grade Teacher and Chapter I Reading and Math Coordinator for 6 years. 

Julie met Bruce Fritzemeier in 1982 at a Math Convention in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It turned out that Julie’s sister-in-law, Jann Malde, was Bruce’s 1st cousin. They were married on April 9th, 1983 at the First United Methodist Church in Mitchell, South Dakota. 

Julie then received the opportunity to work with 0-3 special care children when they moved to Slayton, Minnesota. Her passion for children and teaching didn’t stop when they moved back to their hometown of Mitchell, South Dakota in 1999 where she began working at Abbott House.

She and Bruce raised their blended family of 1 stepdaughter, 1 stepson and 1 daughter. Their children were their world, and she cherished the blessing of being able to raise these 3. Julie attended music concerts, plays and sporting events with great enthusiasm. This carried over to watching her grandchildren’s and many nieces/nephews concerts and sporting events. She loved to “share” all of their achievements with friends and other relatives.

Julie was very involved in the Church communities of each town that they lived in. She enjoyed singing in the choir along with teaching Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. After retirement, Julie continued to stay active with Love Feast, Back Packs, creating Power-Points for the Sunday Service and running sound for services. Her husband Bruce was right by her side for these volunteer activities.

Julie enjoyed traveling with her husband and sisters and in recent years went to Washington D.C. with her sister Carol and the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone with her husband Bruce and sister Lynette.

Julie loved the Lord and spent her life reflecting this through her church involvement and sharing of God’s love with everyone that she met. Her family does not recall her having an unkind word for anyone and always sought to find the good in everyone.

She is survived by her husband, Bruce; their 3 children: Sarah (Lance) Severson and sons Anthony (Hannah) Severson, Trevor Van Keulen, Brett Van Keulen (Emily) and Levi Van Keulen; Mat (Jennie) Fritzemeier and daughters Mikayla, Mary and Elizabeth; and Jill (Casey) Heermann and children Wyatt and Cassidy; 1 great-granddaughter, Lily Severson; sisters, Carol Hasz and Lynette Ellefson; brother, Dave (Jann) Malde; brothers-in-law, Garrett Fritzemeier (Rozanne), Jay (Janet) Fritzemeier, Les (Marilyn) Fritzemeier; sisters-in-law, Sandy Mosher, Lila (Marty) Eilts, and Patti (David) Hanson; and many nieces and nephews.

Julie was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Maryellen Malde; brothers-in-law, Larry Hasz and Dale Mosher; and sister-in-law, Sharee Fritzemeier

In Lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the First United Methodist Church, American Diabetes Association, or the Mitchell Abbott House.

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