Vance I. Kittilstved

Vance I. Kittilstved, 85, of Moorhead passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, April 20, 2025 at Sanford Hospice House.

Vance was born on November 30, 1939 to Irv and Ruth Kittilstved. Vance grew up in Moorhead along with his siblings, Jim, Sharon and Kathy. Vance graduated from Moorhead High School in 1957. He married the love of his life, Janice Fitzgerald, on December 7, 1956. It wasn’t long after that he took on his favorite role, being a dad. In their first five years of marriage, Vance and Jan welcomed their three children Richard, Bruce and Lori. Vance and Jan were married for 56 years. Over the years Vance worked in several capacities in sales, restaurant management, and delivering various products to local establishments. In 1972 he began working for Janesville Auto Transport, where he worked until his retirement in 1999. Vance was very proud that he never missed a day of work during his 27 years working at Janesville Auto Transport.

Vance worked hard in his life, but he also enjoyed his life. He liked spending time with friends and neighbors. He loved spending time with his family and Jan’s siblings, spouses, nieces and nephews. The Kittilstved family and the Rogne family spent lots of time together! Vance enjoyed fishing trips with his dad and his sons. For several years he liked to build RC airplanes and then take them to the flying field to learn to fly them alongside other RC enthusiasts. At 83 years old he needed a new hobby so he bought a couple of pistols to target shoot and loved to volunteer at Red River Regional Marksmanship Center. One of Vance’s greatest joys was his grandkids and great-grandkids. He was the best grandpa! Each grandchild knew they were loved very much by their grandpa. There was never a lack of love in the Kittilstved household.

The past number of years had been spent with his partner Arleen Stein. They enjoyed driveway happy hours and Vance was able to escape winters and go to Florida and spend time with her family but he always got a little homesick.

Vance is survived by his children: Richard (Kristi) Kittilstved, Bruce (Ardis) Kittilstved, and Lori (Steve) Mitchell; seven grandchildren: Jennifer (Michael) Canavan, Amy Kittilstved, Alyssa (Thomas) Tragesser, Brett (Hayley) Kittilstved, Eric (Yasmin) Kittilstved, Brad (Jacque) Mitchell, and Jeff Mitchell; and nine great-grandchildren: Madigan Canavan, Emlyn Canavan, Brennan Canavan, Maizlyn Tragesser, Jaxyn Tragesser, Brynlee Mitchell, Calie Mitchell, Landon Kittilstved, and New Baby Kittilstved. Vance is also survived by ArleenStein and his sisters, Sharon Gilbraith, Kathy Gaare, his brother, Jim Kittilstved, and many nieces and nephews.

Vance was preceded in death by his wife Janice, his parents and brother-in-law Warren Gilbraith.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 8, from 5-7 pm with a time for sharing stories to begin at 6:30 at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 9, at 10 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Moorhead. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Sanford Hospice House, 820 4th St. N, Fargo, ND 58102.

Interment will follow the service at Riverside Cemetery, Fargo. Everyone is invited to a celebration gathering at Brewtus’ Clubhouse (located in Osgood Golf Course) 4400 Clubhouse Drive South, Fargo.