Susan Marie McDonald (nee Lawrence) died on Dec. 23, 2025. She was born on Nov. 28, 1943 in Great Bend to Fred and Olga Caroline (nee Kruckenberg) Lawrence. In 2006 she married Graham Alan McDonald in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They moved to Arizona in 2008.

She was a 1961 graduate of Great Bend High School. She earned her BA in Languages at the University of Kansas, her masters at Pittsburg State University and her Masters at Chicago State University. She taught special education at Harlam High School in Chicago.

A Westbrook Village volunteer, she attended the Lakes office desk during staff meetings; was president of the Hand & Foot card group for 10+ years; organized a team of volunteers to prepare the HOA and Board of Directors voting envelopes; organized a team of volunteers to count Board of Directors votes; sold Bingo cards; and organized a social group for Meadow Park and Meadow Ridge to enable neighbors to meet each other.  This included a monthly “Ladies’ Lunch.

Survivors include her brother William Lawrence and sister in-law Barbara Lawrence. She was preceded in death by her brother, Louis Lawrence.

There will be a service at Life in Christ Lutheran Church on 75th Avenue on March 23rd at 11 a.m. to honor Susan. Interment will be in Great Bend Cemetery at a later date. 

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 28, 2026