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funeral service for Lila M. Bitz, 83, Valley City, North Dakota will be 10:30 am Friday, April 21, 2017 at Epworth United Methodist Church, Valley City.  Visitation will be 5-7 pm Thursday at the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City.  Burial will be in Memory Gardens, Valley City.  She passed away Thursday afternoon, April 13 at Sanford Palliative Care, Fargo, North Dakota.

Lila Mae Harstad was born March 28, 1934 in Jamestown, North Dakota, the daughter of Michael and Gertrude (Wendel) Harstad.  She grew up in the Sanborn, North Dakota area and attended country school.  She graduated from Sanborn High School in 1952.  She was united in marriage to Edward D. Bitz on March 17, 1952 in Jamestown.  They lived in Jamestown before moving to Williston, North Dakota in 1953.  In 1956, they moved to Valley City. Lila worked many years in the Register of Deeds office at the Barnes County Court House.  Ed died January 17, 2002.

She was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church where she was active in the choir for many years.  She was also a life member of AmVets Auxiliary.

Lila is survived by two sons, Edward Bitz, Jr., Jamestown and Jerome (Cindy) Bitz, Sunland, California; two daughters, Susan Ellison (Sam Karels), West Fargo, North Dakota and Lori (Glenn) Koebernick, Rogers, North Dakota; nine grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.  She is also survived by two sisters, Angeline Harstad, Valley City and Joyce (David) Smiley, Marysville, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City.  An online guestbook for Lila can be found at www.olivernathanchapel.com.