Christine Bitz

Christine (Vetter) Bitz beloved mother, grandmother, and sister passed away on December 26, 2024, at St Vincent’s nursing home with family by her side. Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 12:30 pm at Bismarck Funeral Home.

She was born in 1940 in her family home near Wishek to Anton and Christina (Gross) Vetter. She grew up on the farm helping with chores and taking care of her younger siblings. When she was eighteen, Christine moved to Bismarck taking a job at the Patterson Hotel. A few years later, she married John Strandemo and had four children, Debra, the twins Connie and Curt, and Julie.

Christine was an entrepreneur with a strong work ethic, owning several businesses in her lifetime. In her early years, she owned a fencing company in Bismarck ND. In 1980, she and her children moved to Pick City where Christine owned and operated the Dam Bar & Grill. Over the years, Christine made numerous friends from all over the country who came into the bar to say hello and enjoy grandma’s fried potatoes with their steaks, attend a Dam Bar Jam or one of her famous rocky mountain oyster fries. Many fun summers were had by her and her family on Lake Sakakawea fishing, swimming, skiing, making campfires at her cabin along with drives to the blue gill hole to watch the sunsets. 

In 1994, Christine moved back to Bismarck and purchased the Nodak Motel. Most of her grandchildren had their first jobs at the motel. During her time running the Nodak, Christine was known as the “bird lady” as she often had her love birds following her around or sitting on her shoulders. After she sold the motel, at age 62 she wanted to stay busy so, she took a part time position at Corpus Christi Church cooking for parishioners and later at Emmus Place, cooking for the retired priests. 

Family was important to Christine, and she often referred to her children as her “flowers.” She had an instinct to know when family members needed her and was quick to show up and help them in any manner. She taught her children and grandchildren to work hard, stay busy, be adventurous and never give up on your dreams. She loved to cook and bake and always had special treats for family and guests, nobody ever went home hungry. She also enjoyed playing a competitive game of pinochle with family and friends and taught her children and grandchildren how to play at an early age.

Christine was a strong, independent, and adventurous woman with a passion for life. She will be forever in our hearts. 

Christine leaves behind her daughters, Debra (Brian) Eiseman, Connie (Mike) Todd all of Bismarck, daughter-in-law Kris Strandemo, Menoken; grandchildren Christy Steffenhagen, Lisa Greybull (Ian), Rick Wald (Jess), Jeana Obrigewitch (David) Grace Kerzmann (JR), Luther Strandemo, and Logan Strandemo (Shelby); step grandchildren Becky Todd, Michelle Todd, and Stephanie Todd; great grandchildren Ella, Priya, Deidric, Ziah, Amirah, Keenen, Apollo, Khaleesi, Ashton, Jolie, Kolter, Benson, Evelyn, Olivia, Abbi, Weston, TJ, Asya, Ibrahim, Yusuf, Easton, Grant and Heath; sisters Barb Volochenko (Jim) and Irene Kuhn, brothers Martin (Eileen) Vetter and Richard Vetter and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Curtis Strandemo, daughter, Julie Knoll; her parents Anton and Christina Vetter; brothers Alois (MaryAnn) Vetter, Joe T Vetter, Tony (Bernice)Vetter, and Matthias (Ellen) Vetter; sisters Marcy Goven and Lorraine (Joe) Aberle. 

A special thank you and appreciation to St. Vincent’s nursing home staff for the care you gave to our mom and grandmother.