Willis “Gene” Bitter, 92, passed away Oct. 30, 2022, at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, Kan. He was born on Nov. 29, 1929, in rural Barton County, Kan., to Wilhelm “Bill” and Lydia (Goerhinger) Bitter. Gene was a veteran of the United States Army having served during the Korean Conflict as a Staff Sergeant. He married Maxine J. Richardson on Aug. 25, 1957, at Otis, Kan. She died Jan. 7, 2013.

A lifetime Barton and Rush county resident, Gene was a farmer and worked in the oil field in his younger days. He retired in 1992 after 30 years of working for the Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas Company which later became the K-N Natural Gas Company. He was a member of the Otis Trinity Lutheran Church, the V.F.W. and the CWA Union. Gene was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying camping, boating, fishing and hunting.   

Survivors include two sons, Keith Davis (Linda Hughes) of Otis, and Kavin Bitter and wife Ann of Fort Mill, S.C.; a brother, LaVern Bitter and wife Barbara of Council Bluffs, Iowa; four grandchildren, Curt Davis (Sandy) and Bobbie Davis (Brian Jayne) all of Hoisington, Caroline Bitter of Charlotte, N.C., and MacKenzie Bitter of Cumming, Ga.; eight great grandchildren; and seven great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Maxine Bitter; a son, Larry Bitter; his brother, Willard Bitter; and a sister, Joyce Toureau. 

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, 415 N. Main, Hoisington, Kan., with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Otis, Kan., with Stan Ewy, PMA presiding. Interment will be in the Otis Lutheran Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers to the Trinity Lutheran Church, Kansas Honor Flights or the V.F.W., in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, Kansas 67544. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net

Funeral arrangements provided by

Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 

PO Box 146 

Hoisington, KS. 67544

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 4, 2022