DARRELL J PITMAN

Darrell Joseph Pitman passed away peacefully on the morning of August 18, 2020 in Eureka, Montana. Darrell was born on August 31, 1940 in Gardner, Montana to Joseph Pitman and Betty (Fiske) Pitman. The Pitman family moved to Eureka in 1949 and Darrell graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1958.  He attended Montana State University but left after his freshman year and briefly worked for Lincoln Electric Coop before enlisting in the Marine Corp. He married the beautiful Charlotte (Truman) Kraus and together they had sons Derick Pitman and Corey Pitman. Darrell returned to Eureka in the mid 60’s and went to work for his father Joe at Lincoln Electric Coop as a lineman. Darrell was blessed a second time in 1969 when his first marriage ended, and he met and married the lovely Alice (Walker) Pitman. Together the two had children Mistee (Pitman) Verhulp and Bo Pitman. Darrell accepted a position with Big Bend Electric Coop as the District Line Superintendent in 1979 and moved his family to Ritzville, Washington. Darrell and Alice finished raising their three sons and daughter in Ritzville and were an integral part of the community until they both retired and moved back to Eureka. Darrell and Alice had been married 50 years at the time of his passing.  Darrell lived a lot of life during the almost 80 years he was on this earth! Always a man of action, if he wasn’t waterskiing his kids or riding Harley’s with Alice, Darrell was entertaining crowds with his Elvis impersonation or building/re-wiring something. He loved attending his kid’s school and sporting events back in the day, was the master at designing a winning pinewood derby car, made knee boards out of plywood, at Derick’s expense, and if you were riding in the car with him, you could always count on the radio being tuned into Rush.

Darrell is survived by his wife Alice (Walker) Pitman; son Derick Pitman; daughter Mistee (Pitman) Verhulp and son-in-law Ryan Verhulp; son Bo Pitman and daughter-in-law Maria Pitman; grandchildren Marec Verhulp, Michael Pitman, Jaeger Verhulp and Sasha Pitman; brothers Fred Pitman and Roger Pitman; sister Susan (Pitman) Diesen; and many nieces and nephews. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Betty Pitman, and son Corey Pitman.

Due to Covid-19, the family will not be having a public service. However, donations can be made in honor of Darrell to Mountain View Manor in Eureka, Montana (through the Good Samaritan Foundation at 877-774-2746 or foundation@good-sam.com) whose wonderful staff provided exceptional care to Darrell up to the very end. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Eureka.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.

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