Clair Bitting

    Clair Bitting, age 80, Belvidere, S.D., died Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.
     Clair A. Bitting was born March 17, 1935, in Philip, the son of Arthur H. and Edith Arvida (Johnson) Bitting. He grew up in the Belvidere and Kadoka areas, attending the Highland Center School north of Belvidere, attended seventh and eighth grade in Belvidere, and high school in Kadoka, graduating in 1954. He worked for various ranchers in the area, along with putting in electrical poles down by Martin and Long Valley.
    On March 6, 1958, Clair joined the U.S. Army, and attended basic training at Ft. Leonardwood, Mo. After his basic training he returned home on leave. He was united in marriage to Joanne Kulhavy on May 25, 1958, at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Kadoka. He was then attached to an artillery unit, where he worked as a surveyor. He was stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C., and served one year in Korea before being honorably discharged on March 4, 1960.
    They moved to Kadoka where Clair worked for the State of South Dakota Department of Transportation engineers on the construction of Interstate 90. He spent 20 years with the state before retiring. He and his wife, Joanne, then owned and operated a custom spraying service for a number of years, before moving to the original Bitting Homestead north of Belvidere in 1975. He began farming and ranching on the place for the next 39 years, until health reasons forced them into the Kadoka Nursing Home in 2014.
    Clair was a member of the Concordia Lutheran Church in Kadoka, and a longtime member of the Pedersen-Stoddard American Legion Post #144 of Belvidere. Clair was an avid goose, elk and pheasant hunter and enjoyed fishing. Clair played pool and cribbage whenever he had the chance.
    Survivors include his wife, Joanne, Kadoka; one daughter, Kolette Struble, Belvidere; one son, Curtis Bitting, Philip; and a host of other relatives and friends.
    Clair was preceded in death by his parents; and his 14-year-old brother, Charles A. Bitting, in 1935.
    Services were held Monday, June 29, at the Concordia Lutheran Church, with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating.
    Music was provided by Randi Oyan, pianist, and Lonny Johnston and Alex Smiley, vocalists.
    Ushers were Jim Willert and Mike Blom.
    Pallbearers were Larry, Charlie, Frank and Mark Carlson, Dan Smiley, Bob Bauman, Larry Johnston and Craig Coller.
    Interment with military honors was at the Belvidere Cemetery.     Arrangements were with the Rush Funeral Chapel of Kadoka.
    His online guestbook is available at www.rushfuneralhome. com