Kenneth E. Strickland

Kenneth E. "Hungry" Strickland, 89, of Columbus, passed away surrounded by his family, Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Freeman West, Joplin, Missouri.

Kenneth Eugene Strickland was born on March 30, 1936, to Walter and Minnie Belle (Needham) Strickland in rural Oswego, Kansas.  He grew up and attended school in Chetopa, graduating in 1954 from Chetopa High School.

Most of his working years, he was employed at BF Goodrich, in Miami, Oklahoma, from which he retired in 1986. After retirement, he worked for Day and Zimmerman in Parsons and CNC Machining in Joplin.  In his earlier years, he served in the National Guard.

Kenny enjoyed hunting, fishing, picking pecans, and having a garden. He was mechanically gifted, fixing anything with a motor, including small engines to vehicles.

He and Ersie D. (Casey) McKee were united in marriage on September 6, 1961, in Miami, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death on June 28, 2016.

His survivors include:

Six children -

Brenda Carter of Chetopa, Kansas

Beckie Keith and her husband, Robert, of Chetopa, Kansas

Brian Strickland and his wife, Kellie, of Chetopa, Kansas

Darrell Lamme and his wife, Teresa, of Elwood, Kansas

Robin Lamme of Hutchinson, Kansas

Mark Lamme and his wife, Carolyn, of Everest, Kansas

Numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren

One brother – Duane Strickland of Raymore, Missouri

One sister – Patricia Lollar of Haysville, Kansas

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; son, Henry Wilson; stepson, Billie L. McKee, II; son-in-law, Mark Carter; granddaughters, Amanda Moore and Christy McCuen; and sister, Ramona Gwartney.

The visitation is Tuesday, October 28, at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home at 605 Locust St., Chetopa, Kansas. The funeral service will be Wednesday, October 29, at 10:00 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 2803 SW Greenlawn, Columbus.  Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, rural Columbus, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.