Ray Bitker, 98, of Ada, MN, died Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at Essentia Health – St. Mary's Hospital in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Raymond Carl Bitker was born August 27, 1920, at home in Pleasant View Township, rural Ada. His parents were Chris H. and Goldie Effie (Tice) Bitker. Ray attended Pleasant View School.  He was united in marriage to Vera Elzetta Hovland on November 2, 1940 in Ada. He was baptized on November 28, 1950, and confirmed December 10, 1950. Ray and Vera made their home in Lockhart Township where they built their family, farmed, and raised livestock for many years.

Ray had a great appreciation for his hired help throughout the years, thinking of many of them as family. He enjoyed driving around and looking at crops as well as taking out shelter belts with his dozer. Many days you could find him shaking dice and playing cards while having coffee in the morning followed by a little fun at the casino later in the day. When he wasn't sight-seeing or playing cards he liked to attend social functions and spend time with his friend Viola and multiple generations of grandchildren. In his later days he played cards on his iPad and strolled around the yard on the 4-wheeler.

In true Ray fashion, on the day he passed away, while with family, Ray asked how digging beets was going and if the soybeans were ready yet.

Ray is survived by 5 children, Myrna (Loren) Davidson, Morton, WA, William "Billy" (Elaine) Bitker, Detroit Lakes, MN, Jerry (Coleen) Bitker, Halstad, MN, Curtis (Lynn) Bitker, Halstad, MN, and Jacqueline "Jackie" (John) Spears, North Las Vegas, NV, 17 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings: Marguerite, Fern, Leo, and Irving, his wife, three sons, four grandsons, and one great grandson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Sunday School programs of Grace Lutheran Church and Zion Lutheran Church, both of Ada or the charity of your preference.

Funeral: 5:00PM Saturday, September 22, 2018, at Grace Lutheran Church, in Ada.

Visitation: Friday, September 21, 2018, from 5:00-7:00PM with a prayer service at 6:30PM at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Ada, MN.

Burial: Ada Municipal Cemetery, Ada, MN.