Marilyn "Kay" Swanson Bitterman

Marilyn “Kay” Swanson Bitterman, 63, of Sabetha, Kansas passed away peacefully on Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Sabetha Community Hospital surrounded by her family.

Kay was born on November 8, 1960, in Kansas City, Missouri to Elmer “Bud” Swanson and Marilyn Jean (Moon) Swanson. In 1974, the family moved to Frankfort, Kansas where Kay attended both Frankfort and Centralia, Kansas schools. While growing up, Kay developed a love for softball and basketball. Kay graduated from Centralia High School in 1979. 

After high school, Kay began waitressing. Kay also loved children, which prompted her to begin babysitting as well. She loved the children that she babysat, and she treated them like they were her own. In 1984, she moved to Sabetha and continued to work as a waitress and babysat as well. 

In 1987, Kay began working as a 911 Dispatcher for the City of Sabetha, which was a job that she dearly loved. On April 11, 1992, Kay married Michael “Mike” Bitterman at the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Axell, Kansas. Kay and Mike had two children, Amanda and Logan.

In 2024, after working for the City of Sabetha for 37 years as a dispatcher, Kay retired from the city. In her spare time, Kay enjoyed sewing, embroidery, quilting, crocheting, cooking, and reading. Kay was proud of her family and loved them beyond measure. She cherished the time spent with her family and the many memories that they made. 

Kay was preceded in death by her parents; her two sisters, Tracy Huettner, and Teresa Swanson; and her two nephews, Joshua Swanson, and Nicholas Swanson.

Kay is survived by her husband, Mike; her two children, Amanda Bitterman and Logan Bitterman both of Sabetha; her two stepchildren, David (Suzie) Bitterman and Melissa (Paul) Cox both of St. Joseph, Missouri; her four siblings, Lamar (JoAnne) Swanson of Arizona, Sherry (Mark) Wilson of Arizona, Mark (Joyce) Swanson of Frankfort, Kansas, and Monty (Susan) Swanson of Texas; and her niece and nephews. 

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 5, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Popkess Mortuary Chapel in Sabetha, Kansas. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2590 Navajo Road, Axtell, Kansas. Prior to the funeral service, a second visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church. The interment will be made in the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital sent in care of Popkess Mortuary, 823 Virgina Street, Sabetha, Kansas 66534.