Kalispell businessman Duane Bitney dies at 86

Longtime Kalispell businessman and real estate developer Duane A. Bitney died Tuesday at the age of 86.

Bitney’s name is a landmark on Idaho Street at the Bitney’s Furniture store, which he started with his wife Betty in the mid-1950s.

Bitney is also noted for developing important subdivisions in Kalispell such as Village Greens Golf Course, Mission Village, Country Village and Fairway Boulevard. He also gave the city of Kalispell land to build the back 18 Championship Buffalo Hill Golf Course and donated the land for Edgerton Elementary School.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, of 67 years, and many other relatives.

A Kalispell native and Flathead High School graduate in 1946, Bitney was the starting quarterback for the Flathead Braves football team and starting guard for the basketball team.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.

A full obituary can be found in the Daily Inter Lake.