Shirley Bittner

SHIRLEY KAY BITTNER was born on November 7, 1944 to Richard and Anna Mae (Vogelaar) Roth in Worthington, Minnesota. She was baptized in the Slayton Baptist Church in Slayton, Minnesota. The family lived on a few farms in the Worthington area before moving to Ruthton, Minnesota. Shirley attended school in Ruthton. Following school Shirley helped her mom at the local caf in Holland, Minnesota. Shirley was united in marriage to James Fodness on December 30, 1960. The couple later divorced in 1982. Shirley remained busy working and raising their three children, Tammy, Troy and Jessica. She later was employed with Midwest Coast as a truck driver and after meeting Reinhold Bittner, began team driving with him across the country. Shirley loved driving truck and experiencing the different landscapes she passed on her trips. On December 29, 1989 she and Reinhold were united in marriage at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Freeman, South Dakota. The couple made their home in Holland. On August 18, 1990 Shirley was involved in a car accident and as a result of her injuries later became a resident at Ashton Care Center in Pipestone, Minnesota. Over the years, Shirley was an avid Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins fan. She never forgot the time she met Harmon Killebrew and had a picture taken with him. She also was a big fan of Elvis Presley. In September of 2010, she became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne. On Friday, December 30, 2011 Shirley died peacefully at Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne at the age of 67 years, 1 month and 23 days.

Shirley is remembered by her husband, Reinhold; three children, Tammy Harskamp and her husband Gary of Sioux Center, Iowa, Troy Fodness of Luverne, and Jessica Fodness of Luverne; two step-children, Lisa Johnson and her husband Russell of Beresford, South Dakota, and Michelle Ness and her husband Rob of Menno, South Dakota; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and three siblings, Ronny Roth and his wife Audrey of Pipestone, Minnesota, Connie Doppenberg and her husband John of Jasper, Indiana, and Richard Roth of Hillside, New York. She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Anna Mae Roth.