Rubin Bittner, age 95 of Alpena, SD, died on November 2, 2009, at the Sun Quest Healthcare Center in Huron, SD.
His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 6, 2009, at the United Parish of Alpena in Alpena, SD, with burial at the Rest Haven Cemetery in Alpena.
Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. Thursday, November 5, at the Welter Funeral Home in Huron, with the family present from 6-8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.; or one hour prior to the Service at the church on Friday.
Rubin Bittner, the son of Christ and Carrie (Neuharth) Bittner, was born on May 5, 1914, on the family farm 3 1/2 miles north of Alpena. He was baptized in the Reformed faith and confirmed June 24, 1928. As a young man, Rubin attended country schools. Rubin married Waneta E. Wahl on July 8, 1934 in Alpena, SD. To this union were born a son and three daughters.
The couple farmed north and west of Alpena. Rubin retired from farming in 1975, and they moved to Hill City, SD for 4 years before moving to Huron in 1979. Waneta died on May 19, 1984.
Rubin married Leona Hermann on July 7, 1985, in Alpena, SD. The couple lived in Alpena for 9 years before moving to Huron in 1995.
Rubin was a member of the United Parish of Alpena. Rubin enjoyed woodworking.
Grateful for having shared in his life are his his three daughters, Betty (Allen) Olson, and Barbara Miller Noel, both of Huron, SD, and Bonnie (David) Kempf, of Washington, IA; daughter-in-law Lois Bittner of Hill City, SD; 9 grandchildren, Trent Bittner of Colorado, Troy Bittner of New Hampshire, Melanie Bittner of Hill City, SD, Deb Olson of Huron, SD, Julie Kistler of Phoenix, AZ, Carrie Bruner of Prescott, AZ, and Jeff Miller of Huron, SD, Kris Kempf, of Keokuk, IA, and Kara (Josh) Sobaski, of Packwood, IA; 16 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Lorene Bartch, of Ohio; and nieces and nephews.
Rubin was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Waneta in 1984; his second wife, Leona, in 2001; his son, Ben Bittner in March of 2009; his grandsons, Timothy Miller and David Olson; and three sisters, Frieda Funk, Adaline Koerner and Verna Orman.