Suitberta C. Burdick

Suitberta C. Burdick, 86, of Fidelity, KS, died Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha.
     Suitberta was born October 22, 1920 on a farm south of Fidelity, KS, the daughter of Joseph W. and Elizabeth Buser Rochel.  She attended St. Augustine's Grade School, then Fairview High School  for three years, and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in St. Mary's, KS in 1939.  She lived with Mrs. Conrad Wempe in St. Mary's while studying at Immaculate Conception. Her father died in 1940, and Suitberta stayed on the family farm to help her mother.
     In December 1941, she moved to St. Louis, MO with her sister Margaret and began work for the midwestern area office of the American Red Cross.  During this time, Suitberta took volunteer training with the Red Cross for nursing and worked at City Hospital in St. Louis.  She then worked for the United States Cartridge Company in St. Louis as a secretary until April 15, 1943; the company made ammunition for the war effort during WWII.
     She married Leonard H. Burdick on April 28, 1943 at St. Bede's Church in Kelly, KS.  They lived and worked on the Ray Deaver farm southeast of Sabetha until January of 1945 when they moved to the Rochel Homestead where they presently live.  Suitberta worked as a nurses’ aide at the Sabetha Hospital from September 15, 1966 until her retirement on November 1, 1985.
     Suitberta thoroughly enjoyed working with and helping the patients in the hospital.  She also worked with her husband Leonard on the family farm and each year raised a large garden and canned numerous fruits and vegetables.
     She was a member of the St. Augustine's Church and the St. Ann's Altar Society at the church, both in Fidelity.
     Survivors besides her husband Leonard of the home are two sons, Robert Burdick and Lenny Burdick Jr., both of Fairview, KS; three daughters, Elizabeth Anne Olberding of Leavenworth, KS, Mary Rottinghaus of Seneca, KS, and Lila Brown of Meridian, Idaho;  a sister, Sr. Mary Lawrence O.L.V.N. of Huntington, IN;  27 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
     She was preceded in death by her daughter Leona Shepherd on February 28, 1996, her grandson Capt Andrew J. Olberding on February 22, 1996, and her grandson Adam H. Burdick on April 28, 1996. She was also preceeded in death by her brothers, Fr. Joe Rochel and Fr. Tony Rochel S.J.and sisters, Margaret Haug, Rosalia Broxterman, Sr. Walberg Rochel O.S.B., Clara M. Buessing, Sr. Cyprian Rochel O.S.J.
     Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, September 22, at St. Augustine Church in Fidelity, KS.   Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Friday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, KS, with the family and friends visiting from one hour before each rosary.  Burial will be at the St. Augustine Cemetery at Fidelity, KS.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Sisters at Atchison, and sent in care of the family.