Kathleen Neff, 65, of North Newton, Kan., died May 11, 2022. She was born Aug. 5, 1956, to Clifford and Elizabeth (Bartel) Bitikofer of Hesston.
Most of her growing up years they lived on a small acreage between Zimmerdale and Hesston. Helping in the large family garden, playing outdoors with the animals, gathering eggs and 4-H were regular activities. She enjoyed going on frequent family outings to wade down the creek, camp at a lake or to visit interesting sights.
She attended a small rural grade school, Golden Plains, through seventh grade, when it was consolidated with the Hesston school district. She graduated from Hesston High School in 1974.
They attended the old PA church, which later became Whitestone Mennonite Church. It was there she was baptized on confession of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in 1970.
During high school she developed an interest in world hunger issues, the invasiveness of the multinational corporations, and how our lifestyle choices affect people in developing countries. She became concerned with how our greed hinders others from being able to grow food for their own children, and she worked with education on these topics. This led her to become a longtime member of Bread for the World and begin writing letters to representatives to help change policies. She developed a resolve to consume less, live simply and work toward justice for all people.
She began taking international trips to learn and experience other cultures. These first trips included an interterm with Hesston College to the Middle East and a study term in Jamaica for a maternal and child nutrition course. She graduated from Hesston College in 1976.
Taking a few classes at Bethel College, she met Dana Neff of Iowa. They began dating, which continued when she went to finish her degree at Kansas State University, focused on international nutrition and sociology. Various jobs she worked while going to school were in food service, as a seamstress and as a florist.
She and Dana fell in love and were married Aug. 18, 1978. After completing their degrees, they left for their first assignment in Haiti with Mennonite Central Committee. She worked with women's groups, nutrition education and agriculture. They served at two locations back in the rural mountains for a total of five years. They then served in South Florida with Haitian refugees for 18 months, where son Darnell was born Jan. 25, 1987. When Dana took a position with MCC Central States, they moved to North Newton. Daughter Sheralynn was born May 20, 1990.
At this point she decided to work at home caring for the children, sewing, gardening and taking them to library story hour. Many hours were spent reading, singing and exploring.
They became members of First Mennonite Church of Newton. She enjoyed fellowship with other mothers, helped with music, the library and children's classes. When Darnell and Sheralynn were young she became a self-employed seamstress, which allowed her flexibility to work with the children's schedules. She established her own business sewing products for massage therapists and doctors. Filling these orders continued for more than 20 years.
She continued quilting projects with her mother, comforters for MCC, clothing for the family, and other creative projects. She enjoyed cooking and exploring new recipes from around the world. As Sheralynn developed an interest in other cultures they enjoyed visiting international markets and going to cultural festivals together.
She continued to read books out loud to Darnell and Sheralynn, and sometimes went to see the play or movie version together. Reading and discussing books with them continued into their adult years. She was involved in their school activities and was glad to see them become avid readers. She sewed costumes for their book reports, History Day competitions, and for dramas at church.
She continued to learn from friends around the world and had the opportunity to take several more international trips. She and Sheralynn went with the FMC work team to Brazil in January 2006, when some lifelong friendships with church family in Gama were formed. She and Dana went to Brazil to visit Sheralynn when she was serving there one year in 2009. She occasionally took weeklong service trips with church family with Mennonite Disaster Service, wielding a hammer to help with roofing.
She helped care for her father when he had cancer, from which he died in 2003. She then consolidated and wrapped up his business affairs and rental properties. She then began caring for her mother, who developed dementia and needed assistance, which continued until her mother's death in 2018.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Dana Neff; a son, Darnell Neff; two sisters, Lynette Stoeppler and her husband, Andy, and Kristine Griffioen and her husband, Joe; a brother, Mervin Bitikofer and his wife, Cathy; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sheralynn, whom she grieved very deeply, on July 24, 2016; and by an infant brother, Eugene Ray Bitikofer.
Most of her growing up years they lived on a small acreage between Zimmerdale and Hesston. Helping in the large family garden, playing outdoors with the animals, gathering eggs and 4-H were regular activities. She enjoyed going on frequent family outings to wade down the creek, camp at a lake or to visit interesting sights.
She attended a small rural grade school, Golden Plains, through seventh grade, when it was consolidated with the Hesston school district. She graduated from Hesston High School in 1974.
They attended the old PA church, which later became Whitestone Mennonite Church. It was there she was baptized on confession of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in 1970.
During high school she developed an interest in world hunger issues, the invasiveness of the multinational corporations, and how our lifestyle choices affect people in developing countries. She became concerned with how our greed hinders others from being able to grow food for their own children, and she worked with education on these topics. This led her to become a longtime member of Bread for the World and begin writing letters to representatives to help change policies. She developed a resolve to consume less, live simply and work toward justice for all people.
She began taking international trips to learn and experience other cultures. These first trips included an interterm with Hesston College to the Middle East and a study term in Jamaica for a maternal and child nutrition course. She graduated from Hesston College in 1976.
Taking a few classes at Bethel College, she met Dana Neff of Iowa. They began dating, which continued when she went to finish her degree at Kansas State University, focused on international nutrition and sociology. Various jobs she worked while going to school were in food service, as a seamstress and as a florist.
She and Dana fell in love and were married Aug. 18, 1978. After completing their degrees, they left for their first assignment in Haiti with Mennonite Central Committee. She worked with women's groups, nutrition education and agriculture. They served at two locations back in the rural mountains for a total of five years. They then served in South Florida with Haitian refugees for 18 months, where son Darnell was born Jan. 25, 1987. When Dana took a position with MCC Central States, they moved to North Newton. Daughter Sheralynn was born May 20, 1990.
At this point she decided to work at home caring for the children, sewing, gardening and taking them to library story hour. Many hours were spent reading, singing and exploring.
They became members of First Mennonite Church of Newton. She enjoyed fellowship with other mothers, helped with music, the library and children's classes. When Darnell and Sheralynn were young she became a self-employed seamstress, which allowed her flexibility to work with the children's schedules. She established her own business sewing products for massage therapists and doctors. Filling these orders continued for more than 20 years.
She continued quilting projects with her mother, comforters for MCC, clothing for the family, and other creative projects. She enjoyed cooking and exploring new recipes from around the world. As Sheralynn developed an interest in other cultures they enjoyed visiting international markets and going to cultural festivals together.
She continued to read books out loud to Darnell and Sheralynn, and sometimes went to see the play or movie version together. Reading and discussing books with them continued into their adult years. She was involved in their school activities and was glad to see them become avid readers. She sewed costumes for their book reports, History Day competitions, and for dramas at church.
She continued to learn from friends around the world and had the opportunity to take several more international trips. She and Sheralynn went with the FMC work team to Brazil in January 2006, when some lifelong friendships with church family in Gama were formed. She and Dana went to Brazil to visit Sheralynn when she was serving there one year in 2009. She occasionally took weeklong service trips with church family with Mennonite Disaster Service, wielding a hammer to help with roofing.
She helped care for her father when he had cancer, from which he died in 2003. She then consolidated and wrapped up his business affairs and rental properties. She then began caring for her mother, who developed dementia and needed assistance, which continued until her mother's death in 2018.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Dana Neff; a son, Darnell Neff; two sisters, Lynette Stoeppler and her husband, Andy, and Kristine Griffioen and her husband, Joe; a brother, Mervin Bitikofer and his wife, Cathy; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sheralynn, whom she grieved very deeply, on July 24, 2016; and by an infant brother, Eugene Ray Bitikofer.
Kathleen Neff, 65, of North Newton, Kan., died May 11, 2022. She was born Aug. 5, 1956, to Clifford and Elizabeth (Bartel) Bitikofer of Hesston.
Most of her growing up years they lived on a small acreage between Zimmerdale and Hesston. Helping in the large family garden, playing outdoors with the animals, gathering eggs and 4-H were regular activities. She enjoyed going on frequent family outings to wade down the creek, camp at a lake or to visit interesting sights.
She attended a small rural grade school, Golden Plains, through seventh grade, when it was consolidated with the Hesston school district. She graduated from Hesston High School in 1974.
They attended the old PA church, which later became Whitestone Mennonite Church. It was there she was baptized on confession of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in 1970.
During high school she developed an interest in world hunger issues, the invasiveness of the multinational corporations, and how our lifestyle choices affect people in developing countries. She became concerned with how our greed hinders others from being able to grow food for their own children, and she worked with education on these topics. This led her to become a longtime member of Bread for the World and begin writing letters to representatives to help change policies. She developed a resolve to consume less, live simply and work toward justice for all people.
She began taking international trips to learn and experience other cultures. These first trips included an interterm with Hesston College to the Middle East and a study term in Jamaica for a maternal and child nutrition course. She graduated from Hesston College in 1976.
Taking a few classes at Bethel College, she met Dana Neff of Iowa. They began dating, which continued when she went to finish her degree at Kansas State University, focused on international nutrition and sociology. Various jobs she worked while going to school were in food service, as a seamstress and as a florist.
She and Dana fell in love and were married Aug. 18, 1978. After completing their degrees, they left for their first assignment in Haiti with Mennonite Central Committee. She worked with women's groups, nutrition education and agriculture. They served at two locations back in the rural mountains for a total of five years. They then served in South Florida with Haitian refugees for 18 months, where son Darnell was born Jan. 25, 1987. When Dana took a position with MCC Central States, they moved to North Newton. Daughter Sheralynn was born May 20, 1990.
At this point she decided to work at home caring for the children, sewing, gardening and taking them to library story hour. Many hours were spent reading, singing and exploring.
They became members of First Mennonite Church of Newton. She enjoyed fellowship with other mothers, helped with music, the library and children's classes. When Darnell and Sheralynn were young she became a self-employed seamstress, which allowed her flexibility to work with the children's schedules. She established her own business sewing products for massage therapists and doctors. Filling these orders continued for more than 20 years.
She continued quilting projects with her mother, comforters for MCC, clothing for the family, and other creative projects. She enjoyed cooking and exploring new recipes from around the world. As Sheralynn developed an interest in other cultures they enjoyed visiting international markets and going to cultural festivals together.
She continued to read books out loud to Darnell and Sheralynn, and sometimes went to see the play or movie version together. Reading and discussing books with them continued into their adult years. She was involved in their school activities and was glad to see them become avid readers. She sewed costumes for their book reports, History Day competitions, and for dramas at church.
She continued to learn from friends around the world and had the opportunity to take several more international trips. She and Sheralynn went with the FMC work team to Brazil in January 2006, when some lifelong friendships with church family in Gama were formed. She and Dana went to Brazil to visit Sheralynn when she was serving there one year in 2009. She occasionally took weeklong service trips with church family with Mennonite Disaster Service, wielding a hammer to help with roofing.
She helped care for her father when he had cancer, from which he died in 2003. She then consolidated and wrapped up his business affairs and rental properties. She then began caring for her mother, who developed dementia and needed assistance, which continued until her mother's death in 2018.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Dana Neff; a son, Darnell Neff; two sisters, Lynette Stoeppler and her husband, Andy, and Kristine Griffioen and her husband, Joe; a brother, Mervin Bitikofer and his wife, Cathy; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sheralynn, whom she grieved very deeply, on July 24, 2016; and by an infant brother, Eugene Ray Bitikofer.
Most of her growing up years they lived on a small acreage between Zimmerdale and Hesston. Helping in the large family garden, playing outdoors with the animals, gathering eggs and 4-H were regular activities. She enjoyed going on frequent family outings to wade down the creek, camp at a lake or to visit interesting sights.
She attended a small rural grade school, Golden Plains, through seventh grade, when it was consolidated with the Hesston school district. She graduated from Hesston High School in 1974.
They attended the old PA church, which later became Whitestone Mennonite Church. It was there she was baptized on confession of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in 1970.
During high school she developed an interest in world hunger issues, the invasiveness of the multinational corporations, and how our lifestyle choices affect people in developing countries. She became concerned with how our greed hinders others from being able to grow food for their own children, and she worked with education on these topics. This led her to become a longtime member of Bread for the World and begin writing letters to representatives to help change policies. She developed a resolve to consume less, live simply and work toward justice for all people.
She began taking international trips to learn and experience other cultures. These first trips included an interterm with Hesston College to the Middle East and a study term in Jamaica for a maternal and child nutrition course. She graduated from Hesston College in 1976.
Taking a few classes at Bethel College, she met Dana Neff of Iowa. They began dating, which continued when she went to finish her degree at Kansas State University, focused on international nutrition and sociology. Various jobs she worked while going to school were in food service, as a seamstress and as a florist.
She and Dana fell in love and were married Aug. 18, 1978. After completing their degrees, they left for their first assignment in Haiti with Mennonite Central Committee. She worked with women's groups, nutrition education and agriculture. They served at two locations back in the rural mountains for a total of five years. They then served in South Florida with Haitian refugees for 18 months, where son Darnell was born Jan. 25, 1987. When Dana took a position with MCC Central States, they moved to North Newton. Daughter Sheralynn was born May 20, 1990.
At this point she decided to work at home caring for the children, sewing, gardening and taking them to library story hour. Many hours were spent reading, singing and exploring.
They became members of First Mennonite Church of Newton. She enjoyed fellowship with other mothers, helped with music, the library and children's classes. When Darnell and Sheralynn were young she became a self-employed seamstress, which allowed her flexibility to work with the children's schedules. She established her own business sewing products for massage therapists and doctors. Filling these orders continued for more than 20 years.
She continued quilting projects with her mother, comforters for MCC, clothing for the family, and other creative projects. She enjoyed cooking and exploring new recipes from around the world. As Sheralynn developed an interest in other cultures they enjoyed visiting international markets and going to cultural festivals together.
She continued to read books out loud to Darnell and Sheralynn, and sometimes went to see the play or movie version together. Reading and discussing books with them continued into their adult years. She was involved in their school activities and was glad to see them become avid readers. She sewed costumes for their book reports, History Day competitions, and for dramas at church.
She continued to learn from friends around the world and had the opportunity to take several more international trips. She and Sheralynn went with the FMC work team to Brazil in January 2006, when some lifelong friendships with church family in Gama were formed. She and Dana went to Brazil to visit Sheralynn when she was serving there one year in 2009. She occasionally took weeklong service trips with church family with Mennonite Disaster Service, wielding a hammer to help with roofing.
She helped care for her father when he had cancer, from which he died in 2003. She then consolidated and wrapped up his business affairs and rental properties. She then began caring for her mother, who developed dementia and needed assistance, which continued until her mother's death in 2018.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Dana Neff; a son, Darnell Neff; two sisters, Lynette Stoeppler and her husband, Andy, and Kristine Griffioen and her husband, Joe; a brother, Mervin Bitikofer and his wife, Cathy; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sheralynn, whom she grieved very deeply, on July 24, 2016; and by an infant brother, Eugene Ray Bitikofer.
