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BORN
1949
DIED
2016
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John Bitner Obituary
March 27,1949 - December 3rd, 2016
Dale passed away December 3rd, 2016 after a battle with cancer.
Dale grew up in Midvale, Idaho. Spending his early years going to school, playing sports and roaming the foot hills there with his Mom, Dad and Brother, hunting, fishing and picnicking. He graduated from Midvale High School in 1967. He attended BSU and the College of Idaho, earning degrees in education.
His career consisted of working for the National Interagency Fire Center, and was a well-known, loved, long time teacher and coach for the Kuna School District. An avid outdoorsman his entire life, his joy of the outdoors was shared by and with many.
He is survived by his son Brenn Bitner, daughter Brendi Bitner-Garbey, his brother Ron Bitner and Ron's wife Mary Bitner, Brenn's wife Britten Bitner and their 3 girls, Jylian, McKenzie, and Alyssa, Brendi's husband Esau Garbey and her 3 kids, Jordan, Keirra, and Christian, his longtime life partner Marcie Ellen Young, his nieces Julie Quick, Jamie Hodge, Amy Bitner, Erica LaBronte and nephews Eric Hernandez and Kenneth Hernandez, as well as numerous cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents Roderick Dale and Hilda Barbara Bitner.
Dale's legacy is summed up in one of dozens of responses we have received that reinforces what kind of a teacher and man he was.
"A wonderful man passed away today. Dale Bitner, former science teacher and coach at Kuna Junior High, friend too many, will definitely be missed. Dale was one of the best teachers my five kids ever had! He was old school and expected students to act decent, pay attention, be responsible and turn their assignments in on time, making few if any exceptions. He may not have been a favorite teacher of some students but, as a parent, I appreciated the respect, responsibility, and discipline he tried to promote in his classroom. Dale had a huge impact on many students and athletes during his teaching career in Kuna. I am grateful for the influence his teaching had on my kids and for the friend that he was. Your legacy lives on in the many lives you have touched. Thank you".
Dale,(Dad, Grandpa, Soul mate, Brother, Uncle, friend , caretaker) we already miss you so much, but you will long be remembered for the time you spent with us on this earth.
Services wll be December 31, 2016, 10:00 a.m at the Midvale School Gymnasium
Donations can be made to the Midvale Cemetery Fund, Midvale,Idaho 83605
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Bitner
Sponsored by The Idaho Statesman.
Walt Okamoto
December 30, 2016
I first met "Bit" in August, 1983, when I transferred to BIFC from our Washington Office as a Fire Management Officer and a Wildland Fire Investigator. My supervisor was F. Art Belcher, and, though technically I was to be Dale's supervisor during the summers when Kuna High School, where he taught and was a coach, was on summer break, I think I learned more from him about Interagency Fire Management than he could from me. I found him to be an honest, fun-loving friend, and after 8 1/2 years working with him, I was sorry to leave when I retired from federal service. Fortunately, five years later, I returned to Idaho to work with our Sheriff's Office and renewed our friendship. He would stop by our S.O. or come by our house and we were able to spend time talking about "old times". He was a good man and will be missed by all who knew him. In fact, I learned of his passing from one of our daughters, whom he had coached in Track at Kuna High years earlier.
Our condolences to his whole family...Again, I will miss him, too.
Doris Graham
December 12, 2016
I am so sorry to hear about Dale's untimely passing. My deepest sympathy to Brenn and Brendi, their families and Marcie. He left too soon. Although I have not seen him for a few years, I will miss talking with him on the phone. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Terry Dale
December 11, 2016
My deepest condolences to the entire Bitner family. Dale was always a leader. I remember as a kid he would organize softball games in an open lot in downtown Midvale for all of us kids around town to play. He was a leader on the football field and on the basketball court. Naturally he become a coach and teacher. He was friendly to everyone. Recently I was visiting my mom in Midvale. She said Dale Bitner came by and visited. He went out of his way to visit my widowed mother. That says a lot about Dale. This physical world has lost a great soul but they just picked up a true friend and coach that will inspire others in the Spirit World. God speed Dale.
Jan McBride Mora
December 11, 2016
Ronnie and Family
We were so sad to hear about Dale's passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. So many wonderful memories of our families together. You are always in our hearts.
Michael Sasaki
December 11, 2016
Dear Ron, Amy, and Family,
We were so very sorry to hear about John passing away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you. We will miss quite an extraordinary person who made an impact on all who knew him. Carry on his legacy!
From the Heart,
Mike and Sue Sasaki
Brian Snapp
December 9, 2016
My dad (Hugh Snapp) loved to attend Midvale basketball games. Mainly because of Butch. Dad quite often yelled at referees when he thought he saw a bad call. Butch told me once that he always remembered my dad attending those games and how much he enjoyed his friendship and support. The feeling from my mom and dad was mutual. They loved Butch.
I only recall looking up to one young man when I was a kid in Midvale. That was Dale Bitner. Kindness, humor and respect. A wonderful example to a little kid.
Young men need a hero close by, someone that they look up to and admire, and whom they aspire to become like. Butch was that young man for me and my brothers. We all looked up to him always.
Sheila Bitner
December 9, 2016
I celebrate your freedom from your pain and suffering. I rejoice in your joyful reunion with our loved ones who have come and gone before us, Beloved Aunt Barb, Uncle Bud, Dad, Uncle Jack, and all the others. I love that we got to spend time together. I miss your physical presence here, it hurts. Love always and forever, your cousin, sheila
Shigae Flynn (Roetto)
December 9, 2016
Hugs and Loves to the Bitner family and Marcie Young. We love Mr. Bitner!
Shigae Flynn (Roetto)
December 9, 2016
Hugs and Loves to the Bitner family and Marcie Young. We love Mr. Bitner!
Brad Hill
December 8, 2016
I had the privilege of knowing Coach Bitner from the time he was a Senior in High School and played for my father. Since that time he was considered a close friend of our family. My brothers, sister, and I were lucky enough to have had Coach Bitner as a teacher and coach in our years of Junior High school. I was also fortunate enough to spend many a hunting and fishing trip with Coach and my father talking about the Midvale days and athletics. As a coach and teacher myself, I valued the commitment he had for his students and athletes. He was truly a man of high integrity, and will be missed. God's speed Coach
Kolleen Beesley
December 8, 2016
Such a great guy. I enjoyed working with him for several years. My condolences to the family.
Sherry love Stippich
December 8, 2016
I haven't seen Butch since the mid 80's, but we had the best times growing up in Midvale. We spent time in each others homes and I loved his dad and mom. Ron was a big brother to us. I miss those wonderful days with our Midvale band of mischief makers. Our time playing on lazy summer days in the river. God be with all his family.
Keith Ricketts
December 7, 2016
In the 70's Dale and his family were neighbors of ours in Meridian. With both of us being teachers, coaches, and seeking summer employment to augment our income, we both worked at the Interagency Fire Center (BIFC in those days). On many occasions we car pooled until the fire situations got hectic and our schedule demanded us at different times. I will always remember the serious, and not so serious, discussions we shared talking about teaching science, coaching, and our work at BIFC. We shared a lot in common both coming from small communities and being raised in rural America with a love of fishing. Jan and I pray that Dale's family will be comforted by the Lord's loving arms as they deal with this tremendous loss.
Brian Graham
December 7, 2016
Im going to miss you cousin. You were more than just my cousin and neighbor. You left a big hole in our little neighborhood. Give Uncle Bud and Aunt Barbara a hug for us up there.
Bob Dodson
December 7, 2016
Many Condolences to Dale's son, daughter, and brother. Dale was a great friend and part of the extended Warren, ID family. He was always willing to help others and lend a hand to whoever needed anything. It's a sad day for me personally, to see such a soul pass from this world. Dale will be in my memories always and his blue roofed cabin there will be a reminder of his great friendship whenever I pass.
Tina McCombs Orr
December 7, 2016
My condolences to your family. Mr. Bitner impacted my life greatly. He was my track coach in junior high. He told me that he thought I could get a scholarship in track if I kept working hard. He even helped to coach me on a few weekends, his idea and all volunteer time to do this. I had never even considered that I could get an athletic scholarship. He planted the seed. Thanks to that seed, I did receive a track scholarship to college that paid for my college education. Talk about someone affecting someone else's life. I only wish I could have told him this in person. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Tina McCombs Orr
Marilyn (Wilson) Abraham
December 7, 2016
My heart goes out to your entire family. Butch was a great friend to me. My step dad started calling him 'Butch' when he was little because he hung out with his dad in Cliffs butcher shop and he looked like a little bull dog. We spent hours talking. He was able to read me like a book. No matter how hard I tried to hide being depressed or upset, he would say "what's going on?, you know you can't fool me!" He could always make me laugh...oh the faces he would make! He cared deeply for all his friends and family. He visited everyone and would update me on all our friends. He helped me put fluids in my riding mower when it was delivered to me and came and changed the oil for me. He was always helping everyone. Many of my friends didn't understand how we could be so close and not be romantically involved! He was my best friend. He told me about 'the Corner Bakery Cafe' and my daughter and I eat there often.
Sherry Love, Stippich
December 7, 2016
Ron we are so sorry to hear of Dales passing. He was a great teacher, our oldest went to Kuna for a year. He was such a fun person as a kid and we had fun times.Midvale was a great place to grow up in. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Dales family. God bless you all at this time. Rick and Sherry Stippich
Tiffany Bullard (Potter)
December 7, 2016
Mr. Bitner was a great teacher, and a great friend to my father who grew up with him in Midvale. I look back on my Jr High days fondly and he was a big part of that. Rest in peace.
Bernadette Beck
December 6, 2016
I loved Mr Bitner in Jr High (1991 - 1993)! My heartfelt prayers go out to his family at this time - Bernadette (Gardner) Beck
Gloria Klein (Snapp)
December 6, 2016
Many fond memories of Dale. In high school he was like a fun younger brother, always up to something and such a sense of humor and a prankster. He was always there with a helping hand for other students or teachers. However he drove Mrs. Nettles batty, yet she loved him and he would have her laughing often. Much love to his family, Dale was one of a kind. You children & nieces and nephews need to talk to some of his classmates, oh the stories they can tell! A fair, firm, fun teacher & coach is what I have heard from former students. He will be greatly missed.
Teresa Nielsen
December 6, 2016
He was the best coach teacher I ever had .. he believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. He taught me to work hard and to do our very best . He will be missed . Deepest sympathy to your family.
December 6, 2016
Offering deepest sympathy to the family for your loss. May you draw close to God during this difficult time and He will draw close to you. James 4: 8
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