The Pitts Family and Public Service
The Pitts family has lived in Brookings County over 30 years and nearby for many more!
Born in Flandreau, South Dakota to Bill and Betty Armstrong, Carol grew up on the family farm 3 miles north of Flandreau. The "Armstrong" family was deeply involved in farming as well as public service. Grandfather Roy Armstrong served as a county commissioner, charter REA board member and a state legislator during the 1950's and 1960's. Grandfather Bob Fuller served on the city commission and both parents served on the Moody County Commission.
Carol attended SDSU after high school graduation and received Bachelor of Science degrees in Dietetics and in Psychology. She received a Masters Degree in 1984 from SDSU and is currently a Ph.D. student at SDSU. Her dissertation topic is in the field of nutrition and public policy. There is a long family history at SDSU as Bill Armstrong, Sr., Bill Armstrong, Jr., Doug Armstrong, Betty Ann Armstrong (Brubaker), and Kenneth Armstrong graduated and/or attended SDSU.
Professional service for SD citizens has seen Carol as the Nutrition, Health, and Food Safety Specialist for the SDSU Cooperative Extension Service, the Director of Healthcare, Nutrition and Food Safety for the South Dakota owned CBM Foodservice Company, and a Consultant Dietitian in many regional healthcare facilities. Carol and her family also own and operate the Pitts Property Management, LLC in Brookings.
All four Pitts' children attended Brookings schools and have graduated from South Dakota universities. Jamison graduated from SDSU in Economics, Jody in Consumer Affairs and Jeff also from SDSU in Wildlife/Biology. Justin graduated from Northern State University in Elementary Education. All family members live and work in the Brookings area.
As a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves, Carol was activated and assigned to the Army Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado at the beginning of the Iraq War. She served at Evans Army Community Hospital from 2003 until 2004. There she met and married Patrick Crotty, a Department of Defense employee at Fort Carson.
Shortly, thereafter both Carol and Pat had an opportunity as civilians to serve and support our U.S. soldiers and their families in Europe. Carol worked as the Certified Professional Authority/Wellness Counselor with the Women, Infant and Children Overseas Program at the U.S. Army Base in Mannheim, Germany while Pat continued his work with the Department of Defense in nearby Heidelberg. Carol and her husband have returned to their home in Brookings and are looking forward to being with family and friends.