Michael “Mike” Luitjens, 77, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Sunday, May 5, 2024, at his home.
A Celebration of Life Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church, with Rev. Nicole Martin presiding. A time of fellowship and refreshments will follow at the church hall.
Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5 th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.
com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s website following the service.
Michael “Mike” Harold Luitjens was born on June 22, 1946, to Edwin and Roselyn (Olson) Luitjens in Britton, SD. He was raised on the family farm near Claremont and received his education in Amherst, SD. Mike participated in Boys State in 1963 and graduated high school in 1964.
On September 11, 1965, Mike married Marlyce Swenson in Langford, SD. The pair made their home in Aberdeen while he pursued his education at Northern State University. Mike and Marlyce brought four beautiful children into this world: Chad, Tyrone, September, and Justin. Mike held a night shift position at Hub City while he was in college and gradually advanced to the role of Manager. When asked about his profession, Mike described himself as a manager of a manufacturing plant. After four decades of dedicated service, Mike retired.
Mike was a kind, modest, and quiet man, but his love and loyalty for his family and friends was evident in everything he did. He cherished and adored his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and found immense joy in spending time with them. Mike enjoyed family vacations, fishing, camping, softball, bowling, and golfing with friends and family. He also had a profound appreciation for nature and loved thunderstorms. His children remember him standing on the driveway, pointing out constellations to them and watching storms from the front door, even when the sirens sounded. Mike loved Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, George Jones and Johnny Cash. His favorite song was Amazing Grace. Mike also enjoyed watching the news, sports, and history documentaries. The TV remote disappeared the day he passed away, and his family believes he took it with him to Heaven. His role as “Dad” was endearingly accompanied by advice, “dad jokes,” a unique sense of humor, and many principles and morals that he shared with his children. Mike imparted invaluable life lessons to his family, emphasizing the importance of integrity and optimism. His family shares countless cherished memories, from savoring his homemade pizza to fishing trips to the Missouri River, all while enjoying his unforgettable sayings like ‘When you’re planning for life, life happens’ and ‘Talk about principles and ideas, not people’ and “Those that are the hardest to love need the most love.”
Mike’s passion for travel led him on unforgettable journeys, from exploring Yellowstone to embarking on fishing escapades in Canada with Chad and Ty and friends. He also visited Romania to celebrate the marriage of his son Justin to his wife Erika, and ventured to scenic locales like Mexico, Medora, the Florida Keys, and San Pedro, Texas, creating lasting memories along the way.
Grateful and blessed to have shared Mike’s life are his wife of 58 years, Marlyce; children: Chad (Patty) Luitjens of Aberdeen, SD, Tyrone Luitjens of Aberdeen, SD, September (Cedric Weatherspoon) Luitjens of Minneapolis, MN, and Justin (Erika) Luitjens of Salt Lake City, UT; grandchildren: Jeffrey (Mitchell) Luitjens, Joshua Luitjens, Hailey Luitjens, AuBrianna (Farook) Baksh, Shalom Weatherspoon, Malik Weatherspoon, Nico Weatherspoon, Erik Luitjens, and Nora Luitjens; great grandchildren Zayn Baksh and Ayana Baksh, Xavier, and one greatgrandchild on the way; two brothers, Mark (Diane) Luitjens of Lake City, SD, and Paul (Angela) Luitjens of Rosemount MN; special friends, Dennis & Janet VonEschen, Ken & Ramona Strohfus, and Chuck & Bridgette Witte; several nieces and nephews; and Mike’s adored furry friends, Micah, who always slept with him and Malcolm and Henni, his grand-dogs.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jim Luitjens, and sister- in-law, Leah Luitjens.
