John "Jack" Michael Kreitinger

December 30, 1932 – October 27, 2024

It is with a mix of deep sorrow and fond laughter that we say goodbye to John "Jack" Michael Kreitinger, a man whose life was nothing short of legendary. Born the youngest of five to Lillian Cross and Antoine Kreitinger on a chilly December day in Golva, North Dakota, Jack was destined from the start to live with gusto, faith, and humor.

Jack was an adventurer from the start, and his escapades took him far and wide. He was educated in Golva, where he met the love of his life, Stanley June McKirdy of Gladstone. They wed in 1952 and spent 72 years proving that deep faith, true love, and a shared sense of humor-can endure anything. Together, they raised six children, each of whom inherited Jack's sense of adventure, his wit, and his good-hearted stubbornness.

Jack was a scholar and educator; a man who believed in the transformative power of knowledge. He earned his Bachelor's in Teaching from Dickinson State University, followed by a Master's and Ph.D. from Montana State University in Bozeman. He dedicated himself to education in North Dakota, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska, shaping countless young minds and, occasionally, puzzling his students with his unique brand of wisdom.

Not content to stay on the ground, Jack was also a skilled aviator and flight instructor. Flying was both a passion and a metaphor for Jack-he was happiest with his head in the clouds and his spirit soaring, never bound by convention or gravity.

Jack was an entrepreneur with a knack for creating community. He operated the Chalet Market in Belgrade and the Prairie Schooner in Three Forks, Montana, places where people gathered not just for provisions, but for warmth and stories. His love for Jesus led him to help build St. Raphael Catholic Church in Fairbanks, Alaska, and homes around Three Forks with his sons-a testament to his work ethic and his devotion to family.

Jack had an artistic soul; he was a sculptor who worked in bronze and concrete, turning cold materials into pieces with warmth and spirit. He was a fisherman, an outdoorsman, and a lover of wild places. He found beauty and peace in nature, especially in his later years, spent alongside Stanley June on the banks of the Jefferson River. There, they retired to live simply, feeding the birds, watching the seasons change, and counting their blessings with gratitude.

Jack is survived by his children, Tom and Judy Kreitinger, Jackie and the late Michael Boshka, Guy and Melody Kreitinger, Bunny and Don Preston, Kerry and Brenda Kreitinger, and Robin Kreitinger. He leaves behind a legacy of 18 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, each of whom will miss him greatly.

Jack Kreitinger was a man who took every moment and every adventure with both hands. He has left us with a lifetime of laughter, art, and memories that are as unique as he was. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the family he loved, and the stories we will tell for generations. A Celebration of Life is planned for May 25th at the river.

Fly high, Jack. We'll miss you.