On December 7, 2023, Billie Kaythern Kussman passed away at Evergreen Nursing Home in Alamosa, Colorado. Her husband and daughter sat bedside.

Born on July 25, 1949 in Cassville, Missouri to Naomi Inez and Ira Jeff Bickford, Billie was the youngest of 10 children. The family farmed and ranched by profession, moving to Arkansas and Colorado throughout their childhoods, depending on where work opportunities existed.

Billie attended Rocky Ford and Alamosa High Schools in Colorado. She was a pom pom squad member, and graduated from Alamosa High. She attended Adams State College and met first husband during a summer spent ranching. They married in Rocky Ford and moved to Tucson, AZ, where her husband was finishing his PhD. Billie gave birth to their first child, Jaimie, in Tucson.

The family then moved to Celina, Ohio for a position at Wright State University Lake Branch, where Billie gave birth to their second child, Teri. Billie worked as a librarian at St. Marys public library.

Moving to Racine, Wisconsin for a position at University of Wisconsin in 1976, Billie became an avid runner, utilizing the bike paths adjacent to Lake Michigan. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader, an active volunteer at her daughters' school, Dr. Jones Elementary and worked at the University's health food co-op. She also loved to crochet and sew, creating colorful quilts and handmade dresses for the girls.

Billie chose Nursing as a career path, attending Gateway Technical College in Racine after her divorce. She and her daughters moved to Bellbrook, Ohio, where Billie married Michael James Kussman, construction contractor, and graduated from Sinclair College with her nursing degree. Billie gave birth to their son, Nathan Michael Kussman in 1983. Billie and Mike spent weekends taking the kids to hike nature preserves and First Nation heritage sites around Ohio.

Billie was a nurse in local nursing homes and loved doing home health care. She was a nurse at Miami Valley Hospital and Grandview Hospital in Dayton, Ohio until she found she loved working with veterans and doing Hospice care. She enjoyed her job at Columbus VA in Hospice. She was a devoted nurse for over 25 years, serving two regions of Ohio and earning her Master's degree in nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University.

She left the Columbus VA for a nursing job in Fruita, CO, moving there with her husband, son and three grandsons. There, the family, including her daughter Teri and grandson Celestino, enjoyed hiking in the mountains of the area.

Billie retired and moved with the family to Alamosa, Colorado to be near her sister Wanda McCanless and family and immersed in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountain ranges.

During Billie's last year, she spent time gazing at Mt. Blanca, watching her grandsons hunt, fish and cook, and enjoyed quality time with her daughters, their children and her husband. Billie was known for her positive outlook on life and was an optimist. All who knew her remarked that she was a joy to be around, even in her last years and weeks. She had a generous spirit and firmly believed in helping those in need. Her family was first priority to her, and she worked hard to give them many opportunities.

She is survived by her husband, Michael Kussman and her children: Jaimie Wilke (Art Mullins) of Yellow Springs, Ohio, Teri Wilke of Denver, Colorado, Nathan Kussman (fiancee Makenna) of Monte Vista, Colorado. Her grandchildren: Jordan Lininger (Paige), Patrick Morrissey (Jeongmin), Celestino Duran, Grace Wilke, Solomon Kussman, Gabriel Kussman and Isaac Kussman and her great-granddaughters: Malorie Lininger and Milani Channels. Her siblings: Wanda McCanless of Rocky Ford, CO, Judith Carroll (Michael) of Pueblo, CO, Lynda Keilman of Eddy, TX, Dee Bickford (Virgil Lindsay) of La Junta, CO, Rodney Bickford (Gwen) of McGregor, TX and Ira Jeff Bickford (Rhonda) of Edgewood, NM.

Billie is preceded in death by her daughter, Jacqueline Kussman, her parents, Naomi and Danny Patrick and Ira Jeff Bickford, her sisters, Gwen Green and Sandy Turner and her brothers, Lyn Bickford and Jeff Bickford.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to devoted and skilled caregiver and family friend, Jaizil Vigil.