Henry Bitz

Henry Bitz of Port Orchard, 90, passed away February 13th 2025. Henry was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He was born on October 25, 1934, to William and Dorothy Bitz on the family farm in Montpelier Township, North Dakota. He attended the local schools until graduating 8th grade, while working on the farm. At age 19, he enlisted in the Navy. He served on 3 different Aircraft carriers before being honorably discharged.

After returning home to North Dakota, he met the love of his life, DonnaMae Eberhardt. They were married on October 5, 1958, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jamestown North Dakota. Upon marriage, they lived on a farm south of Windsor before moving into Jamestown. Looking for work, the family lived in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana before settling in Port Orchard Washington in 1969. Some of the jobs he held were working on a farm, gas station attendant, working in the gold mines in South Dakota, and then working with a brother doing sheet metal and HVAC work. After moving to Washington, he started to work for Gould’s Sheet Metal & Heating, a business he ended up buying and renaming Hank’s Sheet Metal and Heating, where he worked until his retirement.

Henry enjoyed his family of 5 children, 16 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren. Some of his hobbies included bowling, shuffleboard, playing cards, camping, playing horseshoes and listening to Country and Blue Grass Music, and watching (or listening) the Seattle Mariners game. He also loved going back to North Dakota for family reunions.

He is survived by two daughters, Ronda (Raylin) Stoecker, Rhoda Dillon and a son Ricky (Diane) of Palmer, AK, 15 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and one brother, William of Browning, MT.

Henry was preceded in death by his wife Donnamae, son Ronnie, daughter Robin, a grandson Justin and son-in-law Jeffrey Dillon, his parents, four sisters and seven brothers.