Betty Mae Bittner

March 21, 1941 - October 8, 2015

Betty Mae Spady came into the world on March 21, 1941, and the world around her would never again be the same. Born and raised in Bellingham, Washington the 3rd of 7 children to Joseph & Norma Spady (Hicks), Betty was small in stature but huge in spirit.

Life was not always easy, but Betty spoke fondly of her childhood, especially the love she had for her grandmother Allie, and all of her siblings and the bond they shared. Betty loved to tell the stories of how she would play preacher and teacher as a little girl, making her brothers and sisters sit thru her sermons. At age 5, Betty was called by the Lord to go to all nations. Her commitment was great even then, having several years of perfect attendance at Sunday school at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church.

A natural leader, Betty was a cheerleader, friend to all, and often the teacher’s pet. She married Bill Larkin in her Senior year of High School, and from that union came 2 daughters, Annette (Rosas) and Lori (Nowitzki).

She eventually moved to Renton, as a single mother of two, lifting herself to a management career in the bakery department at Albertson’s. Betty found a home at Renton Assembly of God, where she became a Sunday school teacher, and met the love of her life Francis Bittner.

Francis and Betty married on November 30, 1974, and were blessed with their son Joshua. Together, the Bittner’s led many ministries throughout their years at Renton Assembly and Grace Fellowship; and in 1996, they moved to Bothell, and founded Rejoice Fellowship Ministries.

Betty’s life was filled and consumed with loving and giving to others. Her joy was sharing the Gospel, and leading people to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Her life touched more people than she would ever know, and she will be greatly missed by all.

If you were to ask Betty her favorite verse, she would say, Matthew 6:33. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things shall be added unto you”. It was this verse, given to her by her daughters, which led her back to her childhood calling of service to the Lord.