Obituary - Evelyn Petr Bitz

Evelyn Petr Bitz passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, in Big Sandy, Montana.

A service celebrating Evelyn's life will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 29, at the Methodist Church in Big Sandy, with luncheon following in the fellowship hall.

Evelyn was born at Hopp-Illiad southeast of Big Sandy in 1935, the youngest child of eight born to Anna and Frank Petr. She spent her early years roaming the river breaks and attending Iliad school. After eighth grade, Evelyn moved with her mother to town and graduated as senior class president and valedictorian of Big Sandy High School in 1951. In high school, she loved her writing classes and playing her clarinet. She was proud of playing for President Harry Truman on his whistlestop tour.

Evelyn worked part-time at H. Earl Clack's while attending Northern Montana College in Havre.

In October 1952, Evelyn married her high school sweetheart, Leo George Bitz, at the ripe old age of 17. Leo often mentions the first time he saw Evelyn standing against the school wall when she came to town for eighth-grade tests, it was something like love at first sight. She talked about their first date being a drive in the mountains for "that girl who loved to roam the hills, it was a special first date."

After her graduation with a teaching certificate in 1953, the couple moved to Big Sandy, where Leo farmed, and Evelyn taught first grade. Evelyn was a natural teacher with a special gift for engaging children, but only taught for one year, quitting after she began her family. Julie, Mark and Bart, her five grandchildren and many little friends were blessed to learn and play with Evelyn. Even during the last months of her life, she delighted in playing with little great-grandson Levon.

Evelyn was a great cook and excellent gardener, renowned for her oatmeal cookies and chocolate cream pie. A typical harvest dinner was pork with caraway seeds, mashed potatoes, veggies and two kinds of pie. Her home was filled with books, notebooks full of her writings, flowers and music. When her sisters came to visit, Evelyn played the role of cruise director, planning outings and adventures. The laughter usually lasted until the wee hours of the night when the "Petr" girls came to visit.

She took her 1951 senior class president job seriously, too, planning fun class outings every five years until very recently.

She loved planning special trips and shopping the sales at Herbergers.

She enjoyed playing bridge and really did it up when the bridge ladies were coming over. She was a long-time member of the Methodist Church, Eastern Star and helped with Rainbow Girls.

Mostly Evelyn loved her family. She was a loyal helpmate to her "Georgie," from helping him write checks and keep the books to cooking healthy foods. She was very caring to her mother and siblings and was a letter-writer extraordinaire. She made holidays so special for her family, creating special dinners and imaginative gifts.

Reading stories with Mom, Evelyn, was serious about learning but loved being silly with her kids, so every character had its own voice and personality.

She loved her Montana home but made sure her children were introduced to the world of literature, music and culture. She loved to write poetry and short stories, was always editing and dreamt of being a published author some day. Taking care of her family and home didn't leave too much time for that dream, but going through her things, one discovers treasure: bits of poems and stories tucked away throughout her house.

After their kids were out of school, the Evelyn and Leo started spending part of each winter in Arizona, making new friends and memories at Picacho Peak. She prepared for every excursion to Arizona in the motor home of the moment as pioneer women of old must have prepared their wagons. She enjoyed gambling and playing bingo a bit and loved the spring poppies and hummingbirds.

Evelyn had a damaging heart attack when she was 72, and life changed a little after that. Leo started helping her a bit more around the house - of course, he had to meet her standards.

As Evelyn's health gradually declined, Leo made Evelyn his mission, getting her to doctor's appointments, shopping for her, and perhaps occasionally nagging her about her diet. She was a fighter and joked about her many jet, helicopter and ambulance rides. She resided mostly at Big Sandy Medical Center since October 2014; the staff became her angels. During Evelyn's last months, her family did their best to show their love. Bart stopped in to pray with her nearly every day, and her Washington kids came as often as they could. She got to have one more Christmas Eve with most of the family at Julie's. Leo and Evelyn continued to enjoy their regular Sunday evening date watching Masterpiece Classic. She particularly loved the photo viewer from Mike and visits with the grandkids and Levon. She got to see her sister, Elizabeth, a few weeks before her death.

Her last outing was a special one - the Celtic Women concert in Great Falls with Leo, Bart and Julie.

Evelyn is survived by her husband, Leo Bitz; children, Julie Bitz Myers, Mark (Jane) Bitz and Bart Bitz; grandchildren, Christopher (Lisa) Myers, Aaron (Ashley) Myers, Matthew (Julie Ann) Myers, Kate Bitz and Nate Bitz; and one great-grandson; sisters Helen Moes, Lillian Blazek, Mary Nance, Elizabeth Timmerman and Frances Keller; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her mother and father; brother, Frank Petr; and sister, Ann Jones.

Memorials may be made to the Big Sandy Medical Center Nursing Home and the Big Sandy Historical Society. You may leave condolences for the family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.