Lawrence Wittrup, age 89 of Turtle Lake, ND died Sunday evening, February 20th at Community Memorial Hospital in Turtle Lake.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, Feb. 26th at the Turtle Lake United Methodist Church with Pastor Peder Anderson officiating.

Interment will take place in the spring at Turtle Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM CST Friday at Goetz Funeral Home in Turtle Lake with a family service at 7:30 PM. Visitation will continue Saturday, one hour prior to time of service at the church.

Lawrence Byron Wittrup was born April 2, 1921 in Turtle Lake, ND to Martin & Lodemia (Clay) Wittrup. He was raised and educated in Turtle Lake and began farming after his father passed away. Lawrence sold the farm to his sons and moved into Turtle Lake in 1982. Lawrence married Helen Kraft Grueneich on July 4, 1965 in Turtle Lake. He was a member of the United Methodist Church where he served in various capacities. Lawrence spent his later years working as a custodian at the Turtle Lake Manor and was employed by Experience Works (Green Thumb) at the Turtle Lake City Hall. He enjoyed gardening, reading his Bible, and spending time with family.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Wittrup of Turtle Lake; four step-sons, Royal Grueneich of Holden, Maine, Mark (Paula) Grueneich of Parshall, ND, Myron (Kathy Jo) Grueneich of Bismarck, & Randy (Kathryn) Grueneich of Valley City; two step-daughters, Kathy (Mark) Rodgers of Nashville, TN, & Nancy (Roger) Larson of Bismarck; sixteen grandchildren & two great-grandchildren; one sister, Rosemary Girardi of Sentinel, OK; and one nephew, Jerry Hofer.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents, one infant brother, one infant sister, and a nephew (Leland Hofer).

In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to The Gideons International (PO Box 268, Washington , NJ 07882).