Obituary: Joanne Bitting

Funeral Services

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 1:00 PM (Mountain).

Belvidere Community Cemetery
Belvidere, South Dakota

Interment

Belvidere Community Cemetery
Belvidere, South Dakota

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In memory of

Joanne Bitting

of Kadoka, South Dakota, died on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at the Kadoka Nursing Home at the age of 82

Joanne Bitting was born on June 25, 1938 in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho to Daniel and Evelyn (Karel) Kulhavy. The family moved from Sioux Falls to Belvidere and ran the drug store “Belvidere Sundries”. Joanne graduated from Belvidere High School in May of 1958.

On May 25, 1958 Joanne was married to Clair Bitting at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Kadoka, while he was home on leave from the Army.

Joanne was a Ranch-wife and mother and worked hard running all the farm equipment. Clair even bought her a combine to combine the fall wheat harvest. She spent most of her birthdays in the hay field. She and Clair owned and operated their own custom spraying service for several years. Joanne managed Club 27 for the legion and also was a waitress for many years working for Russ and Vi Olney. She then managed the Belvidere Bar and worked for Dean and Rita Blom at the Double H Café in Belvidere. Her last position was working at the H&H El Centro in Kadoka for Kenny and Cindy Wilmarth before her stroke in 1997. She continued to live at the family ranch until 2014.

In 1975 they moved to the original Bitting Homestead north of Belvidere. They also bought the Dithmer house from Long Valley and moved it to the ranch and remodeled it. Joanne did a lot of the finish work in the house. She enjoyed stripping and refinishing all the woodwork and various pieces of furniture.

Joanne raised a large garden every summer and enjoyed canning all sorts of things. In her later years she enjoyed putting puzzles together. She was a big card player and loved to play cribbage anytime she could. Joanne taught herself how to crochet and could make any outfit just by looking at it. She did not read patterns. She loved to bowl, and you could find her on Wednesdays at the Western Lanes in Kadoka. She was a longtime member of the Concordia Lutheran Church and the Belvidere Legion Auxiliary. Joanne also enjoyed fishing and hunting, and her and Clair went on several fishing trips in later years.

In November 2014 both her and Clair moved into the Kadoka Nursing Home.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Kolette Struble of Belvidere and Curtis Bitting of Philip; sister-in-law Arlene Kulhavy; niece, Kimberly Kulhavy; nephews, Dan and William Kulhavy; great nephew, Steven Kulhavy; and her dog Taz; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Clair, on June 23, 2015; her parents; and two brothers, Derald and Warren Kulhavy.

Cards and memorials may be sent to 23995 Belvidere Rd. Belvidere, SD 57521.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, at the Belvidere Cemetery with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating. Live streaming will be provided which can be watched from this webpage at the start of the service. Following the graveside service everybody is welcome to the Belvidere Hall for a time of lunch and fellowship.

GRAVESIDE SERVICES
Saturday, November 7, 2020 - 1:00 p.m.
Belvidere Cemetery
Belvidere, South Dakota

CLERGY
Pastor Kathy Chesney

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What a nice tribute video Kolette & Curtis. Your mom was quite the woman & will be missed so much. ~ Laure Hildebrand Kadoka (11/7/2020)
I am so sorry for your loss. My mother sat at the same dining room table as Joanne for the last year and a half and I really enjoyed her when I visited. She was always so cheerful. ~ Sharon Allard Spearfish, SD (11/4/2020)
sorry for your loss, she was a great lady, I enjoyed working for them both. ~ Larry & Jan Miller Kadoka, S.D. (11/2/2020)
Kollette & Curtis,
So very sorry about your mom. Enjoyed getting to know and care for her the past couple of years. She was a special lady. May you hold your memories close during this difficult time. Prayers to you all. ~ J’Nai Hauk Quinn, SD (10/31/2020)
Dear Kolette and Curtis,. So sorry to hear of your Mom, Joanne's passing. We had many fun times in our younger years playing cards, hunting rabbits etc. We were attendants at there wedding! God's love and peace be with you both at this time of sorrow. ~ Marilyn Grable Kerrville Texas (10/31/2020)
Sorry to hear of Joanne's passing. I remember singing at their wedding. Time passes so fast. ~ Etta Evans Texas (10/30/2020)
Joanne was such a nice lady. I remember State parties at their house and she was such a gracious hostess. In later years it was fun to see her face light up when she would see Ronnie. He always had time for her. RIP Joanne. Sympathy and love to you Kolette and Curtis. ~ Ron and Marilyn Gartner Interior SD (10/30/2020)
It was a joy to get to know Joanne after we moved to Kadoka. She had a positive attitude and could communicate so well with her limited voice. Our sympathy to the family. ~ Marsha and Bill Sumpter Kadoka (10/30/2020)
So very sorry for your loss. Many prayers for your family in the days and weeks ahead. ~ Abbi McDaniel Philip, SD (10/30/2020)
So sorry for your loss!! ~ Steph Carlson (10/30/2020)
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I know Mom would also sent you her love and care ~ Lorinda Dirks Gruhlke McIntosh, SD (10/30/2020)
Sorry for your loss...I remember your Dad and Mom well... ~ Greg Barber Interior,SD (10/30/2020)
Kolette, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. My thoughts & prayers are with you and I know she appreciated all of the extra time you spent with her over the past couple of weeks. Hugs. ~Ang~ ~ Ang Madsen-Gilchrist Nebraska (10/30/2020)
So sorry for your loss Kolette ~ Sharri Pettyjohn 23144 Swift Horse Rd (10/30/2020)
She was a special person. She loved to play cards and do puzzles. RIP Jo ~ Linda Stilwell Kadoka (10/29/2020)