Funeral services for Fred "Fritz" Wientjes, 78 a longtime Mobridge area rancher will be Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 2:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mobridge. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be Tuesday beginning at 3:00 PM at Kesling Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. Mr. Wientjes passed away February 10, 2011 at Fort Meade Veterans Hospital in Sturgis.

Fred Wientjes Jr. "Fritz" was born on January 16, 1933 at the family farm in Campbell, Co. he was one of 13 children born to Fred and Emma (Werner) Wientjes. Fritz grew up in the Mound City, Glenham area and graduated from Glenham High School in 1950.
He then entered the army where he served his time in Korea and returned home in 1953. In 1954 he married Doreen Jensen at Round Up, MT. They lived and worked on the family ranch in Campbell Co. where they had their first child Kent Wientjes who was born in 1957.

In 1962 the family moved to Mobridge, where Fritz purchased the Zanstra place on the north edge of town where the 2nd son Jason was born in 1966, there he started his cattle and sheep operation. In 1963 he moved the cattle to the west side of the river and leased pasture from the LeCompte family, spending the next 10 years raising cattle. In 1974 he purchased the Oscar Molstad place, where he could finally call a place of his own. Over the next 30 years he along with his family and friends built not only a ranch but a base for countless gathering of friends and relatives doing all of the activities of ranching. Fritz had 2 favorite times of the year, the start of haying season where over the years at one time or the other most every relative or friend was recruited to help and many coming with little or no experience, is what had made his place the foundation of so many peoples memories.

The 2nd was the branding season, it wasn't uncommon for Fritz and his crew, mostly all kids, to show up with 8-10 at a local branding to help. Young people and friends were always drawn to Fritz's place to work and play and he enjoyed every minute of every day with others. Around town if you were looking for a job and had started at Fritz's that was all you needed to get hired because he "taught them well."

Along with the farming and ranching he helped with building and operating the Eagles Club in Mobridge. Over the next 15 years he and Nola Gunderson made the Eagles not only a successful business, but a place that so many people from both the east and west river communities came together to spend time relaxing and enjoying the western hospitality and atmosphere that they were so well known for.

Anyone who knows Fritz would say he never had a bad day and remember him for his humor and patience. He supported his family and friends with everything he had and had a special fondness of having his grandchildren with him every minute he could as that was evident as they spent every summer and holiday with him and Nola.
Fritz is survived by Nola Gunderson the love of his life for 27 years of Mobridge, two sons, Kent (Cindy) Wientjes of Mobridge, Jason (Melissa) Wientjes of Delta, CO., four grandchildren; CJ, Justin, Lany and J'Kye Wientjes, two great-grandchildren; Brayden and Dawsyn Wientjes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Violet and Lavonne, his brothers; Ray, Al, Jim, Hank and Calvin.