Ben Bittner

Chronicle Staff

Published: Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

  Benjamin Rubin Bittner of Hill City, S.D., left this earth from the Hospice House in Rapid City, S.D., on March 12, 2009, to spend eternity with his beloved Jesus.  Ben was born to Rubin and Waneta Bittner in Huron on Aug. 11, 1945, in Huron, S.D.  He had a delightful childhood growing up on the family farm near Alpena, S.D., where he attended a nearby country school and graduated from Alpena High School in 1963.  He graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., in 1968 with majors in biology and business administration.  He earned a master's degree in natural science from the University of South Dakota in 1973. Ben was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Lois Heuer, on July 16, 1967, in Alpena.  They moved to Hill City in 1974 where they raised two sons and two daughters and parented hundreds of foster children over the past 35 years. Ben taught in high schools in Artesian, S.D., Alpena and Rapid City.  He also was employed by Stan’s Feed Service in Alpena, managed Guarantee Abstract Co. in Rapid City, worked for Hines Lumber Co. in Hill City and did construction work in the Hill City area.  For the past 20 years, he built log camping cabins in campgrounds throughout the United States, turning each new location into an exciting adventure.   Ben enjoyed visiting with old friends or making new friends. Special interests included trains, World War II history, travel, biking and politics. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.  Ben is survived by his wife, Lois, of Hill City; two sons, Trent (Robin) Bittner, Windsor, Colo., and Troy Bittner, Raymond, N.H.; two daughters, Melanie Wiedmann, Box Elder, and Darlene Running Bear, Rapid City; two grandsons, Logan and Lukas Wiedmann, Sturgis, and twin granddaughters, Sarah and Hannah Bittner, Windsor, Colo; his father, Rubin Bittner, Huron; three sisters, Betty (Allen) Olson and Barbara Noel, both of Huron, and Bonnie (Dave) Kempf of Washington, Iowa; a brother- and sister-in-law, Charley and Norma Najacht of Custer, S.D.; several nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.  He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Tara Jean Bittner, and his mother.  Memorial services are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, in the Hill City High School theatre.  Family and friends are invited to a luncheon upstairs in the Slate Creek Grill after the services and internment will follow in the Hill City cemetery following the luncheon. A memorial has been established to the building fund of the Little White Church.