Frances I. Bittner

Frances Ilene Klevgaard was born January 20, 1940, in Twin Valley, MN, to George and Signora (Volness) Klevgaard. She was raised in Felton, MN, where she graduated from high school. She later attended Josef's School of Hair Design in Fargo, ND.

Frances married Don Hatfield on January 28, 1961, in Felton, and they lived in Fargo for a time before moving to Moorhead, MN. She worked as a hairdresser and later as a waitress in Fargo.

She married Vernon Bittner on May 3, 1986, in Dilworth, MN, where they made their home. Frances worked at K-Mart, in Fargo, as well as the Moorhead VFW.

Frances loved spending time with her family, crocheting and playing bingo.

Frances died Saturday, November 2, 2013, at her home in Moorhead, under the loving care of her family and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

She is survived by her four daughters, Dee Dee (Mike) Offerman, Shelly (Steve) Wills, Penny (Joel) Rehder, and Jan (Ted Gustafson) Klevgaard; son-in-law, Mark (Laurie Schmitt) Rickert; grandchildren, Niki (John) Nyquist, Tony Rickert, Donovan Klevgaard, Brady Wills, Ellie Rehder, Taylor Wills, and Victoria and Elizabeth Gustafson; great-grandchildren, Jayce Rickert, and Drew Nyquist; sisters, Shirley Finch, and Brenda (Arlen) Cummings; and a brother, Gerald Klevgaard.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Don and Vernon; daughter, Candace "Candy" Rickert; one brother and two sisters.


Memorial Service Thursday, November 7, 2013, at 2 PM, in Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Moorhead.