Betty Anne Bitney, 88

Betty Anne Bitney, 88, died Sept. 28, 2016, surrounded by her family in Kalispell.

She was born to Carl and Tina Smith Widdowson on May 7, 1928, and raised on the family farm. Betty attended Egan Grade School, a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1946.

She married Duane Bitney, her high school sweetheart and best pal, in 1948. Betty and Duane were married 67 years, and together they raised five children, were successful in business, contributed much to their community, and were very active in the church.

Betty loved her family, loved to laugh, was creative, hardworking, and meticulously detailed in everything she did. She was devoted to her children, and her husband, and worked many long hours selflessly attending to the needs of her business household. She was an excellent cook, an expert seamstress and also enjoyed crocheting and knitting.

Betty worked at several businesses as a bookkeeper over the years, including Bitney’s Furniture, which she and Duane owned. She was also involved in many youth activities, including Cub Scouts, Brownies, 4-H, Bible School, and Teen Town. She and Duane hosted the Kalispell Music Club in their home for many years. Betty was dedicated to her church, was involved in Church Circle, P.E.O. Chapter C, Bible Study Fellowship, and coordinated many family reunions at the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. Betty was an excellent teacher who taught many of her kids and grandkids her homemaking and business skills.

The furniture and Boise Cascade Home businesses allowed Betty and Duane to travel extensively, and they took many trips to various destinations around the world, often accompanied by their children, friends and other relatives. Betty loved to play cards with friends, family and Duane, and was an accomplished bridge player. She enjoyed gardening, reading and poetry, of which she wrote many original poems. Betty’s favorite place was the family lake home on Flathead Lake where she enjoyed many seasons with family and friends, watching her children growing up playing at the lake, then her grandchildren and finally her great-grandchildren. Everyone was welcomed at the lake. Betty was a generous host and always the first person to invite them into her home. Betty always made everyone feel welcome.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Duane, sister Ruth, son Sid and grandson Joel.

She is survived by her children, Rod, Cindy, Sandy and husband Larry, Bye and wife Kay, and daughter-in-law Dianne Bitney, whose families include 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Also surviving Betty are her sisters, Carlene Peters and Marie Peters, sister-in-law Joanna Bitney, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with a luncheon to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

Donations in Betty’s memory may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 603 S. Main St., Kalispell, MT 59901; Kidsports, P.O. Box 1205, Kalispell, MT 59903; or the Flathead County Animal Shelter, 225 Cemetery Road, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.