Joanna Bitney, 91
Joanna Bitney was born Feb. 16, 1929, to Edward and Olive Kelley in Columbia Falls, the second of six children.
On Nov. 2, 2020, she passed away at the BeeHive with her two youngest daughters at her side and surrounded by all her family's love.
Joanna was the eldest of her four sisters. She got lots of practice learning how to be a great mom by caring for them, as her sister Pat, who also lives at the BeeHive, has told us.
Joanna graduated from Flathead County High School, where she was crowned homecoming queen in 1946, her senior year. Soon after, she met her lifelong love, Francis L. Bitney.
Francis was a Marine in World War II. When he left Japan and came back to Kalispell, he asked his brother and soon to be sister-in-law, Duane and Betty Bitney, who he could take out on a date. They both said go ask the sweet, quiet and beautiful Joanna Kelley. She worked at JCPenney at the time. He asked her on a date and it was love at first sight for both of them.
They married June 15, 1947, at the First Presbyterian Church in Kalispell. This union produced five children, and she considered her Spanish AFS student a son as well.
Joanna devoted her life to her husband, children and grandchildren. She always looked to the comfort and wellbeing of others and put their needs before her own.
She and her family were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Kalispell. Her children learned many important life lessons by going to Sunday school, church summer camp, church choir and youth group throughout the years. This was very important to Joanna.
Joanna and Francis traveled extensively all over the world. They even moved to Hawaii with their children for almost a year, just to experience it!
Joanna volunteered at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, Russell School's special education program, Meals on Wheels, and at the polls during elections. She enjoyed entertaining and cooking for friends and family, working with her flowers in the yard, spending time at Flathead Lake, reading, and going to her grandchildren's events. She especially enjoyed just being with her family.
Joanna's life was a legacy of love. Her physical body is gone, but her love will be with generations of Bitneys forever.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Olive and Edward Kelley; her mother and father-in-law, Bessie and Francis A. Bitney; her loving husband, Francis L. Bitney; two sisters and their husbands, Laura and Jack Cave and Ellen and Gayle Fishel; one brother, Edward Kelley; brother and sisters-in-law, Duane and Betty Bitney and Darlene and George Neil; three brothers-in-law, Lawrence Melby, Jerry Blades and Leonard Knutson; and two nephews, Steve Nelson and Sid Bitney.
She is survived by five children and their spouses, Doug Bitney and Janie, Vicki Longpre and Dan, Dan Bitney and Connie, Kathy Dahl and Allen and Amy Andrews and John, and Spanish son Carlos Gardeta; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, with one more on the way; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Jeanie Knutson, and Patricia and Bob Higson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Her family would like to thank the staff of Frontier Hospice and BeeHive Homes of Kalispell for their care for Joanna.
Memorials may be made to BeeHive Homes of Kalispell, 242 Stillwater Road, Kalispell, MT 59901 where Joanna spent the last two and a half years. They took exceptional care of her and we are forever grateful for them.
A private family service is taking place with Pastor Glenn Burfeind presiding.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is taking care of the family.