Nikolaus J. ‘Nick’ Bitto, Jr., age 72, passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2008 at his residence in Sedro-Woolley, Washington; having moved there from Everett, WA in 2007 to be closer to his family.
He was born June 18, 1936 to Nikolaus and Elisabetha Ruck Bitto, Sr. in Lenauheim, Romania.
At the age of 8, he fled with his mother, younger brother John and sister Margret during the Russian Occupation of Romania. The whereabouts of his father was unknown, since he had been conscripted into the Romanian Army during WWII. The family spent 5 years in refugee camps throughout Europe. Nick was re-united with his father when he literally jumped into his arms at a refugee camp in Munich, Germany. These events greatly affected his character and shaped his life.
From 1949 to 1951, Nick and his family lived in Rastatt, Germany where his father was employed by the American Displaced Persons Commission. These years were of a more pleasant experience for Nick.
The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1951 and settled in Everett, WA where Nick attended Immaculate Conception School and graduated from Everett High School. He was a member of and honorably discharged from the National Guard.
His life’s work spanned 30 years with Bitto Masonry in the field of residential and commercial construction, both locally and throughout the State of Washington. In 1963, Nick married Joy Fergesen and to their delight, their first born were Susanne and Denese. Nick later married Barbara Demiglio and became the proud father of son, Nick and step-children, Ron, David and Debi.
Nick enjoyed family outings, camping, fishing, tinkering and rebuilding things, but most of all he enjoyed his grandchildren.
Nick is survived by his two daughters; Denese Miller and her husband Paul of Spokane, WA and Susanne Ruddlesden and her husband Jerry of Indian Trail, NC, and his son; Nikolaus Bitto, III and his wife Dana of Sedro-Woolley. Seven grandchildren, Luke, Samuel, Isaac, Jeffrey, Anna Nicole, Mercedes, and Savanna Nicole. Two sisters, Margret Frahm and her husband Ron of Burlington and Linda Usea of Marysville; a brother, Helmut Bitto of Marysville; a sister-in-law, Sandra Bitto of Marysville and his step-mother, Margaret McKelvey-Bitto of Marysville. Four step-brothers, Shannon McKelvey and Patrick McKelvey both of Marysville, Tim McKelvey of Mount Vernon and Vincent Feltes of Spokane and a step-sister, Barbara Feltes of Pacific, WA. Also numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and a close friend John Stipek of Ballard. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, father, mother, twin brother Josef, his sister Elisabeth, his brother John, and step-mother Ursula.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, October 31, 2008 at 11:00AM at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley with Pastor David Klein of Grace Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00PM at Evergreen Cemetery in Everett. Please share your memories of Nick and sign the online guestbook at www.lemleychapel.com.
To view the live webcast of Nick’s Service, click here.
