COLUMBUS — Kenneth E. “Hungry” Strickland, 89, of Columbus, passed away surrounded by his family, Saturday, Oct. 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 Sept. 6, 1961, in Miami, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death on June 28, 2016.
His survivors include: Six children — Brenda Carter of Chetopa; Beckie Keith and her husband, Robert, of Chetopa; Brian Strickland and his wife, Kellie, of Chetopa; Darrell Lamme and his wife, Teresa, of Elwood; Robin Lamme of Hutchinson; Mark Lamme and his wife, Carolyn, of Everest; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Duane Strickland of Harrisonville, Missouri; and one sister, Patricia Lollar of Haysville.
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 will be held Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6-8 p.m. p.m. at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home at 605 Locust St., Chetopa, Kansas. The funeral service will be Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 10 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. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
