Billie Jean Riter

Billie Jean Riter was born on September 18, 1929, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Hoyt and Golda Huling. She spent nearly her entire life in Bartlesville, only moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the last year and a half to be with her oldest daughter. Jean departed this world to be with Jesus on March 19, 2026, at the age of 96. Jean was an exceptionally gifted woman, known for her phenomenal artistic abilities. She cherished painting watercolors and oil paintings in her spare time. When she wasn't painting, she was capturing moments from her travels with her trusty 35mm camera, developing her own photographs in her darkroom. Her musical talents included playing the violin and piano. As a skilled seamstress, Jean crafted her eldest daughter’s wedding dress, numerous formal dresses, Barbie clothes for her granddaughter, and many other creations requested by her family. She also shared her passion for pie making with her grandchildren, teaching them to pick apples from her trees and make cinnamon applesauce the “old fashioned” way. Family, Friends, and Home Jean’s home was always a welcoming place for friends, family, and animals brought home by her children and grandchildren over the years. She loved gardening, tending to her yard, and nurturing a variety of flowers and beautiful bushes scattered throughout her property. Throughout her life, Jean worked at several places, including Piper Furniture Store downtown and Spears Travel Agency, which was her favorite job. Spears Travel Agency offered her opportunities to travel the world, a passion she fully embraced. Later, she opened her own travel agency, R&R Travel. In her later years, Jean worked for Dr. Karen Wallace before retiring for good. Jean is survived by her three children: Jerry Kung and her husband Simon, along with their children Kim and James Withers, Tonya and Angie Kung, and Justin Kung; Johnny and Renee Riter, with their children Jenny Riter and her husband Chris, James and Emily Riter, and Michelle Riter and her husband Nick; and Janet and Richard Reilly, with their children Jason Norris, Kellie Norris, and Mark Reilly. Jean’s legacy continues through her 15 great-grandchildren—JT, John, Jordan, Jessika, Aliani, Izik, Jaxon, Grayson, Theodore, Gabriel, Clara, Elizabeth, Isaac, Olivia, and Penelope—and one great-great-grandchild, Persephone.

Billie Jean Riter

September 18, 1929 - March 19, 2026