Bitz awarded highest honor in North Dakota cooperative community

MANDAN, N.D. — Connie Bitz, an electric cooperative leader and champion of rural co-ops, from LaMoure, was named the 2026 Gaylord Olson Cooperator by the Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives (QBCC). She is the first woman to win the award, which is the highest honor in the North Dakota cooperative community. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to ensure the continued success of cooperatives for generations to come. Bitz’s legacy was honored at a Feb. 10 ceremony held during the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) annual meeting in Mandan, where her family accepted the award. Bitz died Jan. 2 after battling advanced cancer. 

Bitz was the granddaughter of the first members of James Valley Electric Cooperative, now Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative (DVEC), to receive electricity, and she eventually became the first woman to serve on the DVEC board of directors. She was elected to the DVEC board in 2008 and the NDAREC board in 2012. At the time of her death, she was serving as NDAREC secretary, a position she held since 2016. 

“Connie will be remembered as a tireless advocate for rural cooperatives and a dedicated board member. If it was in her board packet, Connie read it. If there was an error in the minutes, Connie caught it. She only missed one board meeting, even amid cancer treatments, only because she forgot her iPad at home that day,” says Josh Kramer, NDAREC executive vice president and general manager. 

In addition to her rural electric cooperative leadership, Bitz served on the LaMoure Credit Union board of directors, was a North Dakota Farmers Union youth director for 40 years and led LaMoure’s Cloverleaf 4-H club for 38 years. 

“Connie showed us the true success of cooperatives isn’t found in bylaws or budgets – it is found in people. In stronger leaders. In empowered families. In the young people who carry the cooperative values into tomorrow because she taught them how,” says Kristi Schweiss, QBCC assistant director. 

“She was a remarkable person. She gave generously of her time and talents. She cared deeply. Her leadership and heart for community made a lasting impact,” Kramer says. “There is no doubt NDAREC, Dakota Valley Electric and our entire cooperative family are stronger and better because of Connie Bitz. Her example of service and commitment will continue to inspire us all.”

The Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives promotes the importance of cooperatives and strives to provide education, research and outreach to strengthen North Dakota cooperative operations, while working to expand employment and economic opportunities through cooperatives.

NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 17 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to nearly 250,000 North Dakotans. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, lineworker safety training, cooperative business and rural development, professional development and communication services, including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.