Rodney Tuttle

Dates

Obituary

Rodney Tuttle, 77, of Mitchell, SD, died Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. A private family service is planned. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Rodney Wayne Tuttle was born on March 11, 1947, in Plankinton, South Dakota to Melvin and Wilma (Teesdale) Tuttle. He graduated from Mitchell High School and later Mitchell Vo-Tech, in 1969 with an Electrical degree. While attending Vo-Tech Rodney met the love of his life Norma Hiemstra and they were married on April 18th, 1970. Their enduring love for each other would carry them through over 54 years of marriage until the time of his death.  

The couple lived in Corsica, SD and Rodney started Tuttle Electric providing residential and commercial services. In 1980 the family would move East of Mitchell and Rodney started Tuttle Farms Trucking delivering alfalfa hay bales to farmers in Wisconsin. This would later morph into RTO Trucking providing nationwide dedicated delivery services for many manufactures and suppliers within the Mitchell region with his son Justin continuing Rodney’s legacy to this day. 

In his spare time Rodney enjoyed watching and participating in automotive racing. He was a racing fixture at the Roll-N-Wheel and other local dirt track racing facilities in the 80’s and 90’s. He also enjoyed fishing, whether on the farm East of Mitchell on the James River or the family lake and at the Missouri River, or in the Kenai River or Kachemak Bay in Alaska he enjoyed precious time spent with family and friends. Rodney also enjoyed playing cards, pheasant hunting, dogs, traveling, snowmobiling and spending time in the Black Hills at his cabin. He also greatly enjoyed telling funny stories or jokes with friends while having coffee at several locations throughout town. 

Rodney’s greatest legacy was his unwavering work ethic that he instilled in his children. He often enjoyed watching the sunset as he finished working on one of the many projects of the day. But no project was too important when the grandkids were around. He always displayed an abundance of joy, laughter, and love in their presence.  His single-minded approach to the family first mentality resonated in his work ethic, and drive to provide a better life for his family. He constantly put others needs before his own when it came to family and friends.   

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Norma; four children: Jason & Carmela (Muilenburg), Mitchell, SD; Justin, Mitchell, SD; Jeffrey & Heather (Kouf), Buford, GA; Jennifer & (Tyler) Graham, Mitchell, SD; 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; siblings, Ramona (Fred) Persan, East Marion, NY; and John Tuttle, Wagner, SD.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Wilma; brothers, Merlin & David 

In lieu of flowers, the family ask you consider a donation to the Avera Dougherty Hospice House, the Alzheimer’s Association, or a similar charity close to your heart.