Susan and her husband live outside Montezuma, Kansas, where he farms, and she enjoys life as a retired school librarian of 24 years. She is very active in the Montezuma United Methodist Church acting as choir director and chairman of the committee on ministries. Susan has a Bachelors in Political Science and a Master’s in Education with emphasis on Library Science. Someplace in the middle there, she earned teaching and math credentials from Saint Mary of the Plains.

Throughout her life Susan has been very active in 4-H, Brownie Scouts, and as a school board member. She’s served on other boards including the Kansas Association of School Librarians and the Western Kansas Community Foundation. Susan started a book club about 10 years ago and it’s still going strong.

Susan’s husband, Orville, and she consider the best crop they’ve ever raised was their three daughters. Jill is a music therapist; Tracy is a family medicine physician, and Beth is a successful businesswoman. The arts are a very important part of their lives.

A few years ago, Susan attended a Depot Theater production with one of her daughters and her husband. They were very impressed with the production and the facility. Her daughter said to her, “Mom, this is something you need to really support. It is a wonderful asset to this community!” Susan has loved attending shows and even made it a point to create a table at the Guild’s Holiday Tables event.

At the beginning of her retirement, she made a pledge to herself that she would not serve on more than one local board and one regional board. Susan still serves on the Montezuma Hospital District Board as chair, but after serving six years with amazing people on the Western Kansas Community Foundation’s board, she knew the Depot Board would bring yet another set of amazing people into her life. Susan is happy to join the Board as we navigate through these times.