James was born on June 29, 1929, in Dupree, SD, to Louis and Barbara Ritter.
James Louis "Jim" Ritter, age 86, formerly of Edgemont, SD, passed away on December 23, 2015, at the Brookstone Village in Omaha, NE.

Jim was born on June 29, 1929, near Dupree, SD, to Louis and Barbara Ritter. He lived with his family and attended grade school in Sturgis, SD, and graduated from Provo High School at the Black Hills Army Depot in Igloo, SD. From 1951 to 1953, Jim served our country in the US Army in Pusan, South Korea. On April 18, 1954, he was united in marriage to Shirley Jean Gunderson at the Saint James Catholic Church in Edgemont. Together they raised a daughter and two sons. Jim loved woodworking and spent much of his working career building and remodeling homes and businesses in the Edgemont area.

Jim enjoyed camping, boating and trout fishing in the streams of the Black Hills. He was a lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church in Edgemont. After his retirement, he enjoyed cooking and baking for his wife Shirley and their children and families.

Jim is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Donna Ritter of Clarksville, TN; Tony and Sharon Ritter of Omaha; 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Shirley; his daughter Cindy Zellner and his sister Doris Smith.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 28, 2015, at the St. James Catholic Church in Edgemont, with Fr. Kerry Prendiville as Celebrant. Interment will follow at the Edgemont Cemetery.

A memorial in James's name has been established to benefit St. James Catholic Church of Edgemont.