Susan Kay Gilkison, 74 of Wichita, Kansas, formerly of Effingham, Kansas, passed away on Monday, June 27, 2022.

She was born on August 31, 1947 in Horton, Kansas, the daughter of Jack and Lorraine Rosenhoover Bechtold. Susan graduated from Stormont Vail Nursing Diploma Program in 1968. It was here that she met her husband, Richard Gilkison. They were married at St. Leo's Catholic Church on August 3, 1968. She worked many years at the Horton Community Hospital and Atchison Hospital as a registered nurse and in administration. She was a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church in Horton, Kansas. Susan enjoyed doing many activities with her grandchildren including cooking, gardening and reading. They lived happily on their farm in rural Effingham for nearly 50 years. In 2018, she moved to Wichita, Kansas to receive the necessary care for her Alzheimer's disease.

Survivors include four daughters, Beth (Jason) Haden of Spring, Texas, Julie (Chris) Lockwood of Horton, Kansas, Angie (Eric) Becker of Augusta, Kansas, and Dana (Lou) Tolbert of Hiawatha, Kansas; a son, Arthur Gilkison (Darren Bell) of Denver, Colorado; twelve grandchildren, six great grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Bechtold of Topeka, Kansas, and Jane (Casey) Walsh of Denton, Kansas, three brothers, Galen (Luci) Bechtold of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Bruce (Judy) Bechtold of Horton, Kansas, and Jay Bechtold of Horton, Kansas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Richard.

A rosary will be read at 10:30 AM at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Horton, Kansas on Friday, July 1, 2022 with a funeral mass to follow at 11:00 AM. A private burial will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Atchison Hospital Auxiliary or the Horton Library and may be sent in care of the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary. A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com