Valeen Buttars Bitter

Valeen Buttars Bitter, 80, drew her last breath on Sunday evening, August 16, 2015.  She passed away in Bountiful, Utah – following a long farewell – and surrounded by her devoted husband and all of her children in her final days. Hours before her death, she was blessed with the arrival of a new great grand-daughter, to whom she passes the baton of life.  
Valeen was born on July 18, 1935 in Cedarville, Idaho, to Benjamin C. and Laura G. Buttars.  She spent her early years “at the ranch” outside of Weston where the family operated a dry farm, moving into that town in 1947.  She excelled in school, initially attending a one-room schoolhouse before moving to schools in Weston, Clifton, and Dayton.  
After high school, Valeen attended two years at BYU in Provo, Utah, where she studied domestic sciences.  There, she met Reed “Kirk” Bitter, also from Idaho, who was pursuing a degree in Geology.  Sixty years ago they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple, on August 26, 1955.  During her adult life,  she followed her husband as he worked in exploration for Marathon Oil Company, during which time they occupied sixteen different homes – in Utah, North Dakota, Wyoming, Ohio and Texas – each of which she turned into a spotless and restful place.  For the last twenty-two years she was settled in Bountiful, Utah, while enjoying many getaways to her beloved cabin in Star Valley Wyoming.
Valeen and Reed were blessed to travel extensively during her active years, visiting twenty-nine countries and all fifty states.  She was an active member of the LDS church throughout her life and held many stake and ward leadership positions, including serving as Stake Primary President in three different stakes.  Her organizational skills were also used in establishing new stake libraries.
Valeen is survived by her husband, “Kirk” and her four children, Rand (Ginger), Mark (Tammy), Wade (Susie) and Julia Udy (Craig), fourteen grand-children (along with eight spouses) and four great-grandchildren (with another three on the way).  She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Faye and Lora, brothers Morgan and Charles, and is yet survived by siblings Stewart Buttars (Lera),  Elma Walker (Sandy), LaReen Carley (Jim) and Clint Buttars (Cheryl).  A favorite poem closes: “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22nd, at the LDS Moss Hill ward building, 455 S. 1200 E. in Bountiful.  Friends and family are invited to visit with the family on Friday evening, August  21st, between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m., at the Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main St, Bountiful, or on Saturday morning at the church between 9:45 and 10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be at the cemetery in Clarkston, Utah, on Saturday afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to one of Valeen’s favorite charities: LDS Church Humanitarian Fund, Huntsman Cancer Institute or American Diabetes Association.