Our beloved mother, grandmother, wife, aunt, and friend, Suzanna Safford Lein, 84, of Kewadin, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 20, 2023 at Meadow Brook after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

Sue was born March 6, 1939 in El Cajon, Calif. to her parents, Capt. Harry L. and Ruth Safford, who preceded her in death. After her mother died tragically in a streetcar fire, her father, a pilot with the US Army Air Corps, was transferred to Wright-Patterson Field in Ohio. They eventually settled in Columbus.

Sue graduated from Linden-McKinley High School, where she excelled in academics, cheerleading and social club activities. She went on to attend Ohio State University, and work for the Columbus Dispatch. Never one to boast, Sue also held titles as Miss Ohio State Fair, Miss Youth for Christ, along with other honors in her younger years.

Sue met her future husband, Kenneth, in 1959, while he was attending Capital University. Ken, a theology and music student, began attending Broad Street Presbyterian Church and met Sue in the choir. After several failed attempts of asking her out, she finally relented, fell in love and the two were married on March 10, 1960 in Columbus.

During seminary and internship in Chicago, the couple had the first of two sons, Johnathan (1961) and David (1966). Following Ken's ordination, the couple served Lutheran (ELCA) churches in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

While Sue never viewed herself as the "typical" pastor's wife, she was loved and adored by many, wasn't afraid to speak her Scotch/Irish mind, and served as the perfect partner for Dad in their mission to assist those in need. Active in the church and community, she was past president of the ELCW. However, her proudest accomplishment was starting and overseeing a unique weekly workshop for the blind in York County, PA, which taught life skills to the visually impaired.

After serving for 25 years at Bethany Lutheran in Kaleva, Michigan, the couple retired to Kewadin in 2003 to be closer to their sons' families. They "unretired" when Ken was asked to serve as pastor of East Jordan ELCA.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, sister-in-law Janet Ehn, and adopted mother Hilda Knoess. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Kenneth, son Johnathan (Amy) of Altamonte Springs, FL, son David (Pam) of Elk Rapids, grandchildren NoahDavid (Natalie), Joshua (Alyssa) and Olivia Suzanna (Darrius), great-grandchildren, Vienna, Samuel, and Ezekiel.

Sue's life will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Calvary Lutheran Church, in Elk Rapids, with visitation held two hours prior to the service. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Kewadin, and a luncheon will be held at the church.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Elk Rapids Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com