Reinhold Bittner, 77
Reinhold Bittner, 77, of Beresford, S.D., passed away on Sept. 22, 2024 at the Bethesda Nursing Home in Beresford. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. at Walter’s Funeral Home in Freeman, S.D. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service.
Reinhold Bittner was born on Oct. 11, 1946, in Harxbuttel Germany. The family, father Otto, Mother Erna and two more brothers Zeke (Sichard) and Gary (Gerhardt) moved through Germany and immigrated to America arriving at Ellis Island on Jan. 30, 1952. Aided by Lutheran Social Services and sponsored by the Adolf Winter Family, they settled in Beaver Creek, Minn., and youngest brother Willy (Wilfred) was born. After a brief stay in Marion, S.D., the family moved to Freeman and Reiny’s four sisters, Anita, Monica, Velma and Kathy, joined the family.
Reiny attended St. Paul Lutheran School until the eighth grade. He was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He attended Freeman High School and played both football and basketball, graduating in 1965. Reiny worked for a local farmer till he started at Huber Motors in Freeman. His love of all things with a motor was evident. A dedicated “Ford” man always. His other passion was riding his Harley motorcycle that he had in his early years. Reiny was a catcher for the Freeman Town Team for many years and he always said, “Football and basketball were ok, but baseball was my favorite.”
Days after turning 19, his daughter Lisa was born and in 1971 his daughter Missy (Michelle) arrived. His love of the outdoors was evident as both girls were taught how to hunt and fish. Lisa loved shooting with her dad and Missy was always ready to go fishing with him.
Reiny was a very hard-working man. He worked for Huber Motors and then AMPI as a mechanic in Freeman. He started his truck driving career hauling milk for AMPI. Reiny then started his over the road trucking career with his brother Willy at Midwest Coast Transport in Sioux Falls, later becoming an Owner/Operator for the company. He then moved from driving to their trucking school where he was a teacher for many years. He retired and moved to Beresford SD to be closer to his grandkids, Alexis and Riley. He enjoyed going to all their home sports events and rarely missed any of them.
Reiny had a certain sense of humor that would shine. Everyone would know when his “onery” mood was coming due to his ball cap being worn off to the side, a twinkle in his eye and a very “guess what I’m up to” smile. He enjoyed cooking for himself, usually some kind of meat off his smoker, often accompanied by sauerkraut or potato salad.
Reiny is survived by his daughter Lisa (Russell) Johnson, granddaughter Alexis (James) Karrels, grandson Riley Johnson. Brother Gerhardt (Nancy) Bittner. Sisters Anita (Delvin) Schaeffer, Monica (George) Cokens, Velma Bittner and Kathy (Georg) Storaker, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Reiny was preceded in death by his daughter Michelle, both parents Erna and Otto, and bothers Zeke and Willy.
