Gary Britt
Retired businessman and Army National Guard veteran Gary Duane Bitt, 76, of Choteau died in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 26, 2022.
He was born in Great Falls on Oct. 7, 1945, to James and Wilma Britt. His family moved to Kodiak, Alaska, in 1953 where his dad was in the Coast Guard. The family bounced between Maryland and Alaska then settled in Juneau, Alaska, in 1963.
He served in the Army National Guard of Alaska as an engineer and marksman. He was honorably discharged in 1971. He spent time at the family homestead in Tok, Alaska. He married Barbara Franks in 1966 in Livingston and their daughter Lori was born in 1967 and son Rod in 1968.
Gary worked at Glacier Village IGA in Juneau until moving to Worden. He bought a cafe and built houses. He moved to Chico Hot Springs to help his in-laws. He moved to Livingston and bought Ray's Motel and Dairy Queen while managing the bakery at John's IGA. After Barbara and Gary divorced, he moved to Bozeman.
He worked at Safeway where he met Sherry Stueck. They were married in 1981, and he became a dad to her daughter, Jessie Jenkins. He went to work at Morning Star School as head custodian.
They moved to Valdez, Alaska, and bought old Edgerton One Hour photo. Sherry and Gary retired and moved to Choteau in 2006 where he worked summers for the city shop.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandson Kingston Britt.
He is survived by his wife of Choteau; children, Laurel (James) Hutchison of Livingston, Rod (Molly) Britt of Choteau and Jessie (Howie) Pittman of Choteau; his brothers, Jimmy Britt, Mike Britt and Billy Britt, all of Alaska; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and another great grandson due in March.
No service is planned at this time. Memorials are suggested to Bright Eyes Animal Shelter.