Obituary of Ottelia Bittner

BITTNER- Mrs. Ottelia Bittner, late of Shellbrook, passed away peacefully at Parkland Terrace Nursing Home on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 with members of her family by her side. Ottelia was born in Brightholme on February 7, 1920 to John and Marie Ferster. She attended the Mount Teviot School and the Brightholme Church, and did babysitting for the neighbors and worked on the family farm. In 1946 she married Rudolph Bittner, and moved into a small farmhouse, which would also become home for their first five children. In 1953 a new house was built on the farm, and four more children arrived. In 1966, her dear husband Rudolph passed away, leaving Ottelia with the farm and 9 children. There were tough times and hard work, but her determination and the assistance of neighbors carried her through. Faith in her belief in God and all that was promised, and the love of her family, children, and community gave her the strength to carry on. Ottelia made her children the center of her life, and music and dance were always a big part of that. Ottelia moved to Shellbrook in 1972, and began to find time for herself and her coffee friends. Faith and love kept her from ever complaining. She enjoyed community activities such as the Royal Purple, and Lutheran Church Alter Guild. Her house was always spotless, and she took pride in her garden. She was a role model for us all, and will be dearly missed. Ottelia leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Vivian (David) Moe, Ernie (Vicki) Bittner, Edi (Murray) Dahl, Bav (Bill) Loth, Ben (Betty) Bittner, Norma (Bob) Beck, Sharri (Curtis) Mortensen, Debbie (Murray) Kvinlaug, Rick (Darren) Cowan-Bittner; her grandchildren, Michele Remus, Shawna (Darren) Hanson, Von (Marlayne) Bittner, Kristin Gillespie, Brett (Maryanne) Bittner, Blake (Brandi) Bittner, Amber (Jarvis) Egido, Shawn (Marlene) Dahl, Courtney (Chad) Meropoulis, Alana (Kris) Baier, Andrea (Daniel) Tkatchuk, Regan (Duane) Wutzke, Candice (Leeland) Benson, Brynn (Dean) Sanders, Travis Strube, Tenielle (Tim) McLeod, Adam Strube, Ashley Mortensen, Matthew Mortensen, Carmen (Trevor) Langford, Angela (Thomas) Coolidge, Kari Kvinlaug, Erin Kvinlaug; 36 great grandchildren; two sisters, Margaret Friend, Elsie Hutton; her sister-in-law, Edith Ferster. She was predeceased by her husband, Rudolph Bittner; her parents, John and Marie Ferster; her brothers, Alfred, Louis and Arnold; her stepmother Antonia Ferster; two sisters, Erma and Jean; her brothers-in-law Bruno, Ervin, Carl, Gordon, Dick, Reynold, Ted, Otto, Eric, Richard, Henry, Ben, Herbert and Sam; her sisters-in-law Elsie, Dorothy, Irma, Bessie, Mary, Norma, Lillian and Edith; and a great grand daughter, Kayla. The funeral service was held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Shellbrook on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 AM with Rev. Doug Schmirler as officiant. The eulogy was read by Darren Cowan-Bittner. There was a Royal Purple Honor Guard. The urn bearers were Michele Remus and Matthew Mortensen. Memorial donations may be made to the Parkland Terrace Foundation, or to St. John's Lutheran Church. Interment was in Brightholme Cemetery.