By HDN Staff
BOX ELDER Esther G. Bitz, 84, died at a Big Sandy nursing home Saturday, Sept. 22, 2001, of natural causes.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Assembly of God Church in Havre with Pastor Steve Flatau officiating. Burial will be at the Highland Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the services at the church.
Esther was born Nov. 14, 1916, at Havre to Fred and Hannah (Kiemele) Weber. She attended school at Box Elder and graduated from Box Elder High School.
She worked as a tailor at Buttrey's in Havre and worked on her parents' farm east of Box Elder.
On March 5, 1938 at Havre, she married Albert Bitz. They resided on the Weber family farm. In 1942, they moved west of Box Elder and farmed there. They retired in 1974 and remained on the farm.
Esther was a charter member of the West Bench Home Demonstration Club and the Big Sandy Order of Eastern Star. Her hobbies were reading and painting, and she loved her garden and flowers.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Albert Bitz in 1981, and two sisters.
Survivors include her sons, Ronald Bitz of Box Elder and Vern Bitz of Bozeman; daughter, Linda Lanning of Kemmerer, Wyo.; sister, Ruth Schwindt of Elmira, Ontario; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Big Sandy Medical Center Nursing home or to a person's choice.
Services and arrangements are by Holland and Bonine Funeral Home of Havre.
