Elizabeth Bitikofer
1933 - 2018
Obituary
Elizabeth R. Bartel Bitikofer entered
into the presence of God on Sept. 14, 2018, while at the Schowalter
Villa in Hesston.
Liz, as she was known by many, was born
on Dec. 3, 1933, in Meade, the eighth of 10 children of Jacob and
Lizzie Rempel Bartel. The family weathered the Great Depression on a
farm south of Meade. She penned an autobiographical account
describing the measures her large family had to take in order to
survive during her early childhood.
On July 28, 1955, she married Clifford
Bitikofer, whom she met through her brother, Andy, while he served in
1-W service. They had five children: Kathleen (Dana) Neff of North
Newton, Lynette (Andy) Stoeppler of Shafter, California, Kristine
(Joe) Griffioen of Clarion, Iowa, Mervin (Cathy Coon) Bitikofer of
St. George, and a stillborn son, Eugene. Clifford preceded her in
death on April 8, 2003. They spent most of their life together in the
Hesston community.
Elizabeth Bitikofer was a servant. For
many years, she volunteered at the Et Cetera Shop in Newton. She
loved to crochet, quilt and sew. She crocheted comforters for all of
her grandchildren, and sewed several wedding dresses for family. She
and Clifford loved to travel. They managed to visit every state in
the U.S., except Alaska and Hawaii, and traveled to Mexico for
service projects. She was employed for many years at Hesston College
Food Service and at Cross Wind Conference Center.
Liz was known for her gracious and
welcoming attitude toward all she met. She and Clifford welcomed many
guests in their home. She was a generous hostess; her home was the
center of family holidays for many years. She had a subtle and
somewhat mischievous sense of humor, and loved playing games like
Dutch Blitz and dominoes with relatives and friends. Her
grandchildren loved visiting her and joining in the games, and taking
walks with her around the Arboretum.
Her belief in the power of the Holy
Spirit permeated her life. Liz was a servant who led by example. Her
witness was genuine and grounded in the abiding knowledge of the
boundless love and grace of Jesus. She was active in church life at
Whitestone Mennonite Church, and later at Kingdom Life Ministries,
where she served as an Elder. Books and Scripture reading were part
of her daily walk. Prayer was as natural to her as breathing.
As she reached the end of her journey
and her earthly mind and body failed, she continued to project a warm
and loving spirit with smiles and the squeeze of a hand.
Elizabeth is preceded in death, along
with her parents and husband, by her brothers: Pete Bartel, Martin
Bartel, Andrew Bartel and Albert Bartel; sisters, Mary (Henry) Reimer
and Katherine (Harold) Patton; grandson, Nathan Stoeppler; and
granddaughter, Sheralynn Neff.
She is survived by her children; 14
grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Bertha
(Al) Seiffert, Esther (Jim) Whieman and Margaret (Bernhard) Reimer.
Memorial services will be held at 11
a.m. Saturday (Sept. 29, 2018) at the Kingdom Life Ministries in
Hesston. Private family inurnment will take place at the Spring
Valley Cemetery in Canton.
A memorial has been established with
Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. Contributions may be sent to Broadway
Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.
Condolences may be left at
www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial
Funeral Home, Newton.