Robert A. Ritterbush FAIA (1891–1980) was an American architect in practice in Bismarck, North Dakota, from 1920 until 1967.

Life and career Robert Alonzo Ritterbush was born October 13, 1891, in Oakes, North Dakota, to William Donald Ritterbush, a contractor, and Elizabeth (Dyer) Ritterbush.Frederick Clifton Pierce, Field Genealogy 2 (Chicago: Hammond Press, 1901): 724. He was educated at the Ohio Mechanics Institute, later part of the University of Cincinnati, graduating in 1917. During World War I he served with the navy in France. In 1920 he returned to North Dakota, settling in Bismarck, where he and his brother, Clarence W. Ritterbush (1893–1990), formed a partnership with established architect Arthur Van Horn. When Van Horn died in 1931 the brothers succeeded to the practice, which they renamed Ritterbush Brothers. Clarence retired in 1953, and was replaced as partner by Robert H. Ritterbush, Robert's son.Van Horn-Ritterbush Architecture Records, State Historical Society of North Dakota. The elder Ritterbush retired as partner in 1967, but was retained as a consultant until 1973, when he fully retired."Ritterbush, Robert Alonzo" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 766.

In 1922 Ritterbush joined the North Dakota Association of Architects, of which Van Horn had been a founding member in 1917.Western Architect 26, no. 1 (July, 1917): viii. In 1953 the association achieved its long-time goal of affiliating with the American Institute of Architects, and all of its members, including Ritterbush, became members of the AIA. From the time he joined in 1922 until 1965 he was secretary–treasurer of the North Dakota association. In 1966, following his retirement from that office, the association honored him for his "46 years of practice in architecture and outstanding service to the profession." In 1969 he was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, the organization's highest membership honor.""Robert Ritterbush, Bismarck Architect" in Bismarck Tribune, January 19, 1980, 8.

Personal life Ritterbush was married in 1921 to Ruth Nichols in Minneapolis, and they had two children, including Robert Harrison Ritterbush (1926–2019). Death Robert A. Ritterbush died January 18, 1980, in Bismarck.

Legacy After Ritterbush retired in 1973, his son Robert and his associate, Merlin E. Redrud, continued the practice as Ritterbush Associates. The firm was renamed Ritterbush–Ellig–Hulsing in 1997. Major projects of the successor firm include the judicial wing addition to the North Dakota State Capitol, completed in 1981,John Deacon, North Dakota Supreme Court, American Courthouses. and the Bismarck North Dakota Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, completed in 1999. The younger Ritterbush died in 2019, and in 2021 the firm was merged with EAPC Architects Engineers, a large firm from Grand Forks.Lori Bakken, "EAPC Collaborates with Hulsing & REH in Western North Dakota," EAPC, August 30, 2021.

In addition to three designed with Van Horn, two buildings designed by Ritterbush have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. Others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works Bismarck High School, 800 N 8th St, Bismarck, North Dakota (1934–35 and 1962–63)Bridgemen's Magazine 34, no. 7 (July, 1934): 419. Hettinger County Courthouse, 335 Pacific Ave, Mott, North Dakota (1934–36, NRHP 1985)Hettinger County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form (1985) New England Memorial Hall, 925 Main St, New England, North Dakota (1935–36)Steve C. Martens and Ronald H. L. M. Ramsay, Buildings of North Dakota (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2015) Valley City Municipal Auditorium, 320 Central Ave S, Valley City, North Dakota (1936–37, NRHP 2008)Valley City Municipal Auditorium NRHP Registration Form (2008) P. S. Berg Elementary School, 307 3rd Ave W, Dickinson, North Dakota (1949–50)Engineering News-Record 143, no. 1 (July 7, 1949): 133. George Francis Will house, 112 W Ave E, Bismarck, North Dakota (1949–50)Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District (Boundary Increase) NRHP Registration Form (1997) Richholt Elementary School, 720 N 14th St, Bismarck, North Dakota (1950, demolished)A. C. Van Wyk, "Midwestern Community Adopts a Long Range Improvement BulletinAmerican School Board Journal 122, no. 2 (February, 1951): 46–48. Cowan Building, 401 E Broadway Ave, Bismarck, North Dakota (1954–55)Downtown Bismarck Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2001) Receiving and treatment center, North Dakota State Hospital, Jamestown, North Dakota (1954) Bismarck Junior College (former), 900 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, North Dakota (1955)College and University Business 21, no. 4 (1956) Oakes Community Center, 124 S 5th St, Oakes, North Dakota (1955)Engineering News-Record 154, no. 19 (May 12, 1955): 148. Hughes Middle School (former), 806 N Washington St, Bismarck, North Dakota (1957–58)Engineering News-Record 159, no. 16 (October 17, 1957): 370. Kenmare Community Hospital, 317 1st Ave NW, Kenmare, North Dakota (1957)Engineering News-Record 159, no. 4 (July 25, 1957): 109. McCabe United Methodist Church, 1030 N 6th St, Bismarck, North Dakota (1957) North Dakota Governor's Residence, 1131 N 4th St, Bismarck, North Dakota (1959–60, demolished 2018)Cathy Keating, Our Governor's Mansions (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1997): 290–296. Veterans Memorial Public Library, 520 Ave A, Bismarck, North Dakota (1963, demolished) Terminal, Bismarck Municipal Airport, Bismarck, North Dakota (1965, demolished) Bismarck Event Center, 315 S 5th St, Bismarck, North Dakota (1967–69)"Ritterbush, Robert Harrison" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 766–767. Montana–Dakota Utilities Company Building, 400 N 4th St, Bismarck, North Dakota (1968) Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N 4th St, Bismarck, North Dakota (1969)

See also Van Horn-Ritterbush Architecture Records, State Historical Society of North Dakota.

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