Obituary of Sue Liebl

Karen Sue Liebl earned her wings June 23, 2021, surrounded by her family, at the age of 74. She was born August 26, 1946 in St. Francis, KS, the third child of Eldon and Dorothy Smith. Sue attended school in Kanorado, KS where she earned awards in typing, accounting, 4-H, band, and cheerleading. During the summers she worked for a crop duster as a field flagger. Her senior year of high school, Sue suffered a horse-riding accident that left her with multiple fractures of her back. She spent months in traction and a brace and was still able to attend her senior sneak and graduate with her class in May of 1964. Sue then attended Brown Mackie Business College in Salina, KS, earning her degree in accounting. She returned home and was employed by the Burlington Soil Conservation District, a job she truly enjoyed. Sue met Nean Liebl as he was preparing to leave for his military deployment to Vietnam. During this time, they would correspond by mail. When Nean returned home they continued to date until they married September 24, 1966 at the St. Charles Rectory, with a reception held at the house on the hill where Nean’s parents lived in Stratton, CO. After marriage, Nean and Sue moved to the farm northwest of Stratton where they would raise yearlings, farm dryland wheat, and grow their family. Sue and Nean would share the workload, with Sue tending to the cattle side of things while Nean would tend to the farming. Sue took great pride in the home place and weeds dared not grow there. She loved her yard, her peonies, and the massive windbreak they established. Sue’s home was always spotless and the dining room table was forever a gathering place for family, friends and neighbors, with a pitcher of iced tea and a baked good ready at any time. They welcomed Kimberly Kaye and Robin Rae who were their pride and joy. Sue was the girls’ biggest cheerleader. Regardless of the activity, she always found time to chauffer them to practices, games and events, never missing an opportunity to support their dreams. When the work was caught up on the farm, Sue would spend countless hours visiting and caring for family members from Stratton to Goodland. She would sit with them, run their errands, do their yard work and help with anything that made their lives easier. She loved to quilt and made all her family their treasured “blue jean quilts” that will forever comfort them. The “Bunco” crew and women’s bowling league were her “girl’s night activities where laughter was always abundant. Sue was blessed with four grandchildren; Weston, Whitney, Quade and Jake, and they were the light of her life. She loved every minute she spent with them, making countless memories with her “kiddos” on the farm. They loved checking cows with grandma, baking cookies, chasing toads, and building forts, among a hundred other activities that only happened at grandma’s house. Sue and Nean moved to the house on the hill in 2008 when they decided to retire from ranching, continuing to farm until 2013. It was about this time that she welcomed two step grandchildren, Wyatt and Amanda, into the family. She never missed a beat and insisted they call her grandma. Just when she thought being “grandma” couldn’t get any better, she became a “great grandma”, and this kicked the grandma game into overdrive. She loved her “greats”. Sharing stories with them and watching them play made her heart happy. Sue dedicated her entire life to her family. Her motto was “Family first, always”. She was proud of her girls and their families; they were her pride and joy. Sue was proceeded in death by her parents, Eldon and Dorothy Smith. She is survived by her husband of 54 years Nean, daughters Kim (Steve) Woodrick and Robin (Jeff) Erker; grandchildren Weston (Amber) Hatfield, Whitney Hatfield, Quade Erker and Jake (Tabor) Erker, Amanda (Russ) Buzzell and Wyatt Woodrick; great grandchildren Jace, Breckin, and Taymarie Hatfield, Stetson and Owen Buzzell; sister Janis Black, brother Alan (Becky) Smith, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorials can be made to the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Sue’s memory and may be sent or left at Love Funeral Home, 377 15th Street, Burlington, CO 80807.