Doris L. Bitikofer

Doris Selzer Bitikofer left this earth on Sunday evening, August 17, 2025. Her son, Dennis and daughter-in-law, Mary, were with her. She lived 98 years and 10 months. Doris Lemon Selzer was born Oct. 2, 1926 near Canton, Kansas to Harry Selzer and Edna Beck Selzer. Doris was the sixth of the seven Selzer sisters born in this family. The family moved to a farm in the Limon, Colorado area when Doris was 3, but moved back to Kansas in 1935. Doris was always embarrassed about her middle name, but it was her Grandpa Beck's given name. Doris attended her first and second grades in a country school near Limon, a three-mile walk from their farm. She attended her remaining grade school years and first three years of high school in Canton. Her final year of high school was at the Hesston Academy, associated with Hesston College. She was an alto in a quartet with several of her sisters. Doris traveled to Oregon and to Massachusetts after high school to help older sisters with their young families. She was working in a grocery store in Canton when her father suffered a sudden stroke the day before her 20th birthday. Her father died several days later. Doris said that Leroy Bitikofer was the only boy she ever dated. They both attended Spring Valley Mennonite Church southeast of Canton. Leroy was also the second youngest in his family of seven boys and two sisters. Doris and Leroy were married on Aug. 24, 1948. They lived briefly in Hesston, then moved to a farm southeast of Canton. In 1951, with their first child, they moved to the second floor of Leroy's parent's farm home, just north of Spring Valley church. Leroy's parents moved to Canton in 1955, and Leroy and Doris and their growing family then occupied the whole house on the Bitikofer farmstead. Doris and Leroy had four children: Dwight (1951); Dennis (1954); Leta Jo (1957); and Gary (1960). Doris and Leroy occupied the Bitikofer farm until 2016, when they moved to Schowalter Villa in Hesston. During their many decades on the farm Doris was busy caring for her family – and sometimes out searching for wandering sons. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing clothes for children – and for a while – helping a neighbor making draperies. There were frequent overnight guests of traveling relatives. And very often there were guests for Sunday dinners. She was known for her tender rolls, perfect mashed potatoes with gravy and amazing pies. Doris gardened and processed fruit from the farm's apple and cherry orchard. She managed chickens and eggs, washed the cream separator twice a day and helped nurse orphaned lambs. And almost always, there were homemade cookies in the cookie jar. Doris and Leroy lived out their concern for the salvation of their family and many others. They carried out the Lord's work in many, many areas. Doris' walk with Christ included many, many acts of service. She served the Spring Valley congregation as a Sunday School and Summer Bible School teacher, as a youth group sponsor for many years and then a long stint as church treasurer. She was active with the WMSA, serving as a South Central Conference delegate. She also reached out and developed friendships with women who moved into the community without a supportive family or church network. As a youth leader, she was the adult confidante of several young women, nurturing them in their lives as young Christians. Doris and Leroy always sang in the annual Canton Christmas Cantata. She and Leroy participated in many volunteer activities including flood clean-up; annual cleaning at Hesston College before each school year; blood donations and more. In later years, she worked as a cook at Shiloh Manor retirement home in Canton. Leroy died in 2018. Doris continued living at Schowalter Villa until 2021 when she moved to Moundridge Manor. Doris is survived by her four children, Dwight; Dennis (Mary); Leta Kremser (friend, Dale); and Gary (Laura). She is survived by nine grandchildren: Dustin (Lindsey) Bitikofer; Nicholas (Krysti) Bitikofer, Emma (Mattheis) Lorimor; Becky (Justin) Overmiller; Jami (Robert) Dietrich, Kendall (Brandi) Heckard; Kurtis (Jamie); Heckard; Joshua (Grace) Bitikofer and Jared (Sheritta) Bitikofer. She is survived by 14 great-grandchildren: Luke and Anna Bitikofer and James Lorimor; Wyatt, Jackson and Asher Overmiller; Dakota and Parker Dietrich; Addison, Remi, Greyson, Payton and Alivia Heckard; and Annabelle Bitikofer. Doris is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 30, 2025 at Spring Valley Mennonite Church, rural Canton. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, August 29 at Olson's Mortuary. A memorial has been established with Spring Valley Mennonite Church, in care of Olson's Mortuary, Canton.