Francis Norman Sitz, 98, passed away Dec. 9 in Boise, Idaho.
F. Norman Sitz was born May 24, 1917, in Drewsey to John Lewis and Georgia Sitz. He grew up working hard on the family ranch. When the Great Depression came and his father died, he and his siblings worked years to pay off the ranch debt.
He herded sheep every summer near Strawberry Mountain, ran a trap line before school in the winter, and shared all the chores of a cattle ranch. He graduated from Burns High School at age 15, then continued ranching and trapping.
He managed to buy a Piper Cub, which he flew all over Eastern Oregon, and he often landed in the sagebrush to make urgent repairs before taking off again.
He went to Oregon State University, studying agriculture, but quit after a year, saying he already knew how to raise chickens.
He worked for the Harney County extension agency, then later joined the Army officer training program just before WWII. He was at the top of his Fort Lewis graduating class in the IQ test and obstacle course, and was offered a position on General Eisenhower’s staff upon graduation, but instead chose to stay with his men from Kentucky and Tennessee in the 959th Artillery of the 19th Army.
He landed on Omaha Beach June 24, 1944, and led his “Long Tom” self-propelled howitzer 110s for 800 miles through France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. They were often behind enemy lines, as they supported the infantry and dueled with the deadly German 88 artillery. He directed the first Allied artillery fired into German soil, and was decorated for winning a duel with 10 German guns against his three. He was a “mayor” of a large area in Germany after the Armistice.
He returned to Harney County and married Ellen Catterson. In 1947, they honeymooned by taking a jeep and trailer up the Alcan Highway, and settled in Anchorage, Ala., where he built their log cabin and worked as a carpenter. After Ellen said she was leaving the “!!#**#! cold,” they returned to Harney County, and he began his lifelong career as a cattleman, first in Burns, then in Ontario. At various times, he owned and/or managed the sale yards in Weiser, Idaho, Ontario, and Baker. The Ontario Livestock Commission Company had the 10th largest volume of cattle sales in the U.S. during the years he managed it.
He lived in the era of cattlemen who did million-dollar deals on a handshake, and every man’s word was good. He was a shrewd cattleman, known for his honesty and integrity. Every evening, his phone rang constantly with ranchers seeking advice. He had a soft spot for ranch hands/cowboys down on their luck and helped out hundreds over his career.
He was also an unbeatable card player and won so consistently that he was politely banned from many local card games. He started his career as a cattleman by playing poker in a local game for several days until he made enough to buy his first herd.
Norman and Ellen raised four children in Ontario, and he taught some of them how to stealthily catch trout in small desert and mountain streams. He semi-retired in the 1970s, and began successfully trading in cattle futures for many years.
He took up golf, despite his feeling that the grass could be better used for raising cattle. Although he had the worst golf swing in history, he gradually managed to get down to a single-digit handicap. He also drove the mail truck on his route from Ontario to Drewsey.
Ellen passed away in 2003. Norman lived at his home until the very last. Because of severe eyesight problems and other age-related issues, he was wonderfully cared for during the last 13 years by his daughter, Nancy/Yasha.
Norman remained mentally sharp and was enthusiastic about being alive every day. He continued to be a master of the daily Jumble.
He died from complications of an elbow fracture sustained on his daily walk.
Norman is survived by his daughters, Nancy/Yasha Sitz of Boise, and Laura Williams of Juntura; sons, John Sitz of Ontario, and Dr. Norman Sitz of Pendleton; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral and graveside services were held Dec. 12 in Ontario. Remembrances may be sent to the family at www.lienkaemperthomason.com