Kay Kittler passed peacefully during the night of April 18, 2023 at the age of 88. His inurnment will take place Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 3 PM central time at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military Honors will be provided by the Mandan American Legion Honor Guard. Please arrive at the Veterans Cemetery Chapel no earlier than 2:45 PM central time.
He was born on October 24, 1934 to Walt and Helen (Heider) Kitter, growing up in Beulah, ND where his dad had a 17-piece jazz band. Walt admired band leader Kay Kyser. Consequently, when Kay was born, he was named after Kay Kyser. He played clarinet in his dad’s band for several years. When Kay was in high school, they moved to Mandan. He served in the US Army and during that time, he directed the army band. After the military, he lived in Dickinson for some years where he taught music. He later attended UND where he received his Master’s degree in Educational Administration. He moved to Bismarck where he taught music at St. Mary’s High School. He also directed the Elks chorus and lobbied for Minnkota Power. Later, he became superintendent of the high school in Center ND.
On June 11, 1982, Kay married Elaine (Ternes) Werner and moved from Bismarck to Redmond, WA where Elaine wanted to finish her degree at Seattle University. During the 25 years of living there, they did a lot of traveling throughout the US, Canada and parts of Europe. Kay loved the water and fishing. They spent many hours on their boat in Lake Washington. Periodically, they would spend time in the San Juan Islands crabbing and exploring the islands. They enjoyed all the guests who came to visit and treated them to rides on the lake. They also hosted 2 German exchange students so their house was always buzzing with activity and storytelling. During those years, Kay taught music at Redmond High but always had an interest in US History and American Government, so he decided to switch his music teaching career to teaching History and Government. He enjoyed it so much that he didn’t retire until 2006. Kay absolutely loved to travel so a year after retirement, they sold their Redmond home, bought a big motorhome and traveled full time for 7 years to explore many parts of the US to learn how people in different parts of the country lived. After spending some of those winters in Arizona, they decided to make it home. They had a house built and lived there for 10 years until Kay’s passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walt and Helen; a brother, Bill Kittler; son-in-law, Delayne Gohring; and brother-in-law, Roy Anderson.
Kay was a happy person who enjoyed people and life. He also enjoyed the community swimming pool to do his daily laps. He loved meeting people and you could often see him visiting with neighbors out on our street. One of his favorite things to do was sit out in the back yard with their cat Barley. He and Elaine also started a TNR program in their community getting 31 feral cats spayed and neutered through the AZ Animal Defense League.
Kay was a devoted husband, father and friend. He touched many lives and had solid friendships that he dearly treasured. He is missed by his family and by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; their daughters, Kris Gohring, Kelly Kittler, and Lori Werner; two granddaughters, Leah (Sean) Baldwin and Monet (Ryan) Carlson; and a sister, Carmen Anderson.
