Clifford Lawrence Bitikofer was born in Canton, Kansas, the youngest of 10 children of Fred and Martha Bitikofer.

From an early age Clifford enjoyed tinkering, gardening, building, and fixing things around the family farm. He attended school in Canton, and at the Hesston Academy. Drawings and homework saved from that time indicate a talent for precision and detail, especially with mechanical and technical subjects.

At an early age he confessed faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized into the church at the Spring Valley Mennonite Church in rural Canton. His faith was central to all he did, and he lived it out in the fruits of his labor.

He served as a conscientious objector during the Korean war, at the Topeka State Mental Hospital (following WWI, young men who belonged to historic "peace" churches were offered alternatives to combat during war time, such as firefighting, medical service and other work). He described this as a harrowing and dangerous work. He also drove a truck for Mennonite Central Committee and their canning operations. Through one of his fellow C.O.s he met a sister, Elizabeth R. Bartel of Meade, Kansas, whom he married in 1955. The story is that Liz's father did not accept Clifford at first, as Clifford did not speak German as did Liz's family. Liz said she married him anyway and there were no further problems.

Clifford and Elizabeth had five children, four who married, and 15 grandchildren at the time of his death. His son Eugene's (stillborn infant) grave is also in the Spring Valley cemetery. One grandson, Nathan Stoeppler, joined him in death in 2007, a result of brain cancer.A granddaughter, Sheralynn Neff, died in 2016 in a skydiving accident.

Clifford loved to travel. He and Elizabeth visited all of the lower 48 U.S. States during their lifetime together. He worked as a builder, carpenter, salesperson at Kropf Lumber in Hesston. After retirement he did extensive grounds maintenance at Cross Wind Conference Center in Hesston, and at the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains. One of his enduring projects is the computer lab at Flint Hills Christian School in Manhattan, Kansas. The computer table and shelves are still in use today. He enjoyed the outdoors, and playing with his 16 grandchildren. He was always open to taking the families to interesting places and "treating". One of his favorite indoor pastimes was playing the harmonica.

He and Elizabeth were active participants at Whitestone Mennonite Church, and later at Hesston Inter-Mennonite Fellowship (Now Kingdom Life Ministries).

He passed away after battle with prostate cancer. Many family members were present, and others had been to see him the weekend before he passed.

He had been working, mowing, three weeks prior to his death, a testimonial to his hardy and persistent spirit.

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THANK YOU and Blessings! to friends who share their tributes here. I wish I could thank you all, each time.

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His grandchildren who have joined him on the eternal journey: Our nephew Nathan

Our niece Sheralynn