Gary Allen Della Bitta

Gary Allen Della Bitta passed away on August 23, 2026, in Bozeman, Montana after a long battle with heart failure.

Gary was born July 14, 1946, in Gilroy, California, to Cody and Raffaella (Fortino) Della Bitta. Gary attended Gilroy Elementary and Gilroy High School and was a star guard on Gilroy High School's 1964 championship basketball team. In two full seasons, they only lost three games and went to State Championship both years. After graduating from High School, he attended Gavilan Jr. College, where he graduated with an AA degree in Life Sciences. He went on to San State University, where he continued his studies, majoring in Biology and playing basketball. Gary was drafted into the Army during his first year at the university.

Gary married Michelle Jarvis on January 28th 1984, and they divorced in 1989. They had one daughter, Briana. Gary moved to Montana in the year of 1987 and would live in Livingston and Bozeman for various parts of his life. Gary worked several professions throughout his lifetime and was skilled in various areas before he retired due to an injury.

Gary was preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by his Aunt Helen Carlson and husband Carl, his aunt Rosalie Greene, uncle Theodore Della Bitta, all previously of Gilroy California. Gary is survived by his daughter Briana Della Bitta and his grandsons, Ayden Benjamin Spears, Michael David Spears, and Liam Oskr Sabo. His brother Larry Della Bitta, wife Nadine, niece and nephew, Cheryl and Cody Della Bitta. He will be deeply missed by family and loving friends who were supportive and helpful during his last eight months.

Gary will always be remembered for his love of the outdoors – hiking, hunting and fishing. Gary was an avid hiker, and loved to fish with his grandsons. Hunting was not just a sport, but a way of life. He took great pride in being able to provide his family with a freezer full of venison. If Gary wasn’t home or working you could find him in the mountains enjoying the beauty of nature and abundance of wildlife. He found the most peace watching the deer gather in his front yard, and in the wild rabbits that frequented the property.

People who knew Gary referred to him as a man who would speak his mind openly, commenting on his kindness and warmth, always one to tell a funny joke with a twinkle in his eye, and a connoisseur of gourmet meals.

Gary will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He’s flying high with the eagles now.

“The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, un-rememebered acts of kindness and of love.” -William Wordsworth

“God saw that you were getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you, and he whispered, “Come to me.” A golden heart stopped beating; God broke our hearts and proved to us he only takes the best.”