Funeral services for Alex Sittner, age 93, of Lemmon, SD will be at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the New Leipzig Baptist Church in New Leipzig, ND. Rev. Al Gaines and Rev. John Sittner will officiate with burial at 3:00 p.m. at Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon, SD.


Alexander Johanas Sittner was born March 18, 1916 to Johannes and Elizabeth (Seidel) Sittner on his family homestead in Perkins County, 7 miles west of Meadow, South Dakota. Alex was born in the family sod house. A framed house was built a few years later on the "Sittner Grain Farm", that house remains to this day.


Alex attended Meadow Central School. During these elementary school years Alex worked hard alongside his family on their farm, but his passion was baseball, he loved to play baseball! Alex and Emma, his sister, then attended Lemmon High School and did light-housekeeping in a house owned by the family. Emma said that Alex excelled in his grades at school. He and Emma graduated from Lemmon High in 1934. That fall, Alex attended Lee Bible College in Cleveland, Tennessee. After completing Bible College, Alex returned to the "Dakotas" and taught at Northwestern Bible College in Minot, North Dakota. This is where Alex met Evelyn Fern Anderson. They were married in San Jose, California on May 11, 1941.


In 1941 God called Alex and Evelyn to begin a ministry in Tacoma Washington. They served soldiers and their families stationed at Fort Lewis. Some of Alex's most enjoyable years were spent in that Church of God military ministry. Alex and Evelyn prayed that God would spare the lives of each soldier that came through their church. During that time not one of these soldiers lost their life. At this time 4 children were born to Alex and Evelyn.


In May 1948 Alex and Evelyn returned to the Dakotas where they supported their ministry to rural churches by farming and ranching. They pastored the Church of God churches at McIntosh, Cole Springs, and Lebanon, South Dakota. In 1964 Alex and Evelyn moved to Rapid City South Dakota where they faithfully supported Canyon Lake Church of God. Alex sold insurance and helped fill pulpits of rural churches as needed. During these years Alex received a number of outstanding salesman awards.


In 1991 Alex and Evelyn retired to Lemmon, South Dakota where they bought a small farm north of town. In 2005 Alex and Evelyn moved to Northglenn, Colorado to be nearer to their sons. Evelyn passed away on November 16, 2008. In July 2009, Alex returned to the New Leipzig-Elgin area to live with his daughter and son-in-law. Alex passed away peacefully in their home February 6, 2010.


Grateful for having shared Alex's life are his sister Emma Nelson, Mobridge SD; 1 daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Ron Clapsaddle Elgin, ND; 2 sons and daughters-in-law, John and Stephanie Sittner, Northglenn CO, James and Phyllis Sittner, Lakewood, CO; grandchildren Cherie (Rod) Johnson, Elgin, ND, Jack (Stacey) Clapsaddle, Sacramento, CA, Heather Clapsaddle, Omaha, NE, Mark Sittner, Brazil, Nicole Sittner, Fort Collins, CO, Mathew (Purvi) Sittner, Alexandria, VA, Stephen Sittner, Great Lakes Naval Base, IL, Michael Sittner, Houston, TX, Rebekah Sittner, Washington D.C., David Sittner, Lakewood, CO; great-grandchildren Tschida and KaDee Johnson, Elgin, ND, Alex and Corrie Jean Clapsaddle, Sacramento, CA, Evelyn Sittner and Ravi Sittner, Washington, D.C.


Preceding Alex in death are his wife, Evelyn Fern; a daughter, Sharon Fern; 2 brothers, Peter, and Emil Sittner; and 5 sisters, Louisa Sittner, Julia Fischer, Katie Fry, Ella Jordeth and Martha Ross.


Alex had a never failing deep love and respect for his savior Jesus Christ. His courage and Godly example was an encouragement to his family and friends.


Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday morning.


In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Avant Ministries, 10000 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO, 64155. Please mark donations to "Account #11089". This will go toward the mission work that Alex's son, John, is doing in Africa.