Obituaries
Teresa Strecker
Jan 9, 2023
Longtime Independence resident Teresa Louise Strecker passed into eternal life with her family by her side on Monday, January 9, 2023.
On September 8th, 1943, John and Catherine (Wolken) Paulie welcomed their daughter, Teresa, into this world in South Mound, Kansas. Teresa was a proud 1961 graduate of St. Paul high school, regularly attending reunions. On June...
Charlene Royse
Jan 8, 2023
Charlene M. Royse, 89 of Independence, Kansas passed away at Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Graveside services will be held on Friday, January 13th at 2:00 pm at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Rick Hills
Jan 8, 2023
Rickie Dale Hills, 72, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 8th, 2023 at the Oklahoma State University Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cremation has taken place with Potts Chapel. A graveside service will be held on Monday, January 23rd, 2023 at 10:00am at the Harrisonville Cemetery, rural Independence.
Rickie Dale Hills was born May 18th, 1950 in Coffeyville,...
Kathianne Denny
Jan 8, 2023
Kathianne Denny, 51, of Centerville Iowa, passed away Sunday (January 8, 2023) in Tyro, KS.
She was born April 7, 1971, on Blytheville Air Force Base, AR to Lloyd and Mary Beth Jones. She grew up in the Caney area where she attended school.
On July 14, 1990 she married William (Bill) Denny in Caney,...
Phyllis Maugans
Jan 6, 2023
Phyllis Jean (Trotter) Maugans
Phyllis was born July 7, 1930 to William and Daisy (Kettleman) Trotter. She passed away at OSU Medical Center in Tulsa on Friday, January 6, 2023 at the age of 92. The last several years she resided with her granddaughter Lacy King (Mickey) in Independence.
Services to honor Phyllis will be...
Alfred Fobian
Jan 1, 2023
Longtime Independence area resident Alfred "Lee" Fobian, 88, passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023 at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.
Lee Fobian was born on March 9, 1934, to Alfred and Johanne Marie (Jensen) Fobian in New Hartford, Iowa. He graduated high school in 1953 from Cedar Falls, Iowa. Lee proudly served in the United States Navy for...
Thomas Lowry
Dec 29, 2022
Thomas Richard Lowry, 82 of Independence, Kansas, passed away at his home unexpectedly on Thursday, December 29, 2022.
Tom was born in Arkansas City, Kansas on June 29, 1940 to Thomas “Reuel” and Jessie A. Lowry. He attended grade school in Wellington until his family moved to Caney, Kansas. Tom graduated from Caney High School in 1959....

Charles Bredehoft
Dec 28, 2022
Charles (Charlie) Timothy Bredehoft, age 68, Of Independence, passed away December 28, 2022, peacefully at his home. Charlie was born June 15, 1954 in Independence, Kansas to Reinhold and Clara (Dittmer) Bredehoft. Charlie grew up in Independence, joining New Beginnings at the age of 10, where he made lifelong friends.
One sure way to see Charlie smile...
Mary Adams
Dec 23, 2022
Mary Louise Adams, age 84, passed away December 23, 2022, at Medicalodges in Independence. Mary was born February 8, 1938, in Independence to Bill Johnson and Viola Prather. She married Leonard Adams Sr. and they were married for 50 years before his death. The two made their home in Blue Rapids, Kansas before moving to Montgomery County.
...
Everett Bower
Dec 13, 2022
Everett Frances Bower, 81 of Elk City, Kansas passed away at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, December 13, 2022.
Everett was born in a farmhouse on July 21, 1941 in Niotaze, Kansas to Everett Paul and Mary (Dunham) Bower. He attended Atwater CA Schools and graduated in 1960. In January of 1964, Everett joined the United...
Robert Dunham
Dec 11, 2022
On December 11th at 11:00 p.m., Robert won the final battle and went home to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Robert Bruce Dunham born April 10, 1963 in Independence KS to George Bruce Dunham and Leah Virginia (Payne) Dunham. He grew up in the Elk City area with his brothers, Garryl, Glynn, and Monte along with...
Daleen Steele
Dec 9, 2022
Daleen Steele passed away at her home after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease on December 9, 2022. Daleen was born November 2, 1951 in Independence to Dale and Barbara (O'Brien) Hilyard. She attended schools in Independence, graduating from both Independence High School and Independence Community College. On May 25, 1974 she married Michael Steele. She spent many years...
Roger Leeseberg Sr.
Dec 4, 2022
Roger P. Leeseberg, 83 years young, of Independence passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
Roger was born on July 18, 1939 to Herman E. and Flora A. (Bruns) Leeseberg in Brookfield, IL.
Roger Leeseberg attended St. John’s College in Winfield, Kansas where he met his lovely bride, Sharon. The two married on August 22,...
William "Wild Bill" Steen
Nov 29, 2022
On Tuesday, November 29, 2022 William “Wild Bill” Steen lost his long battle with pancreatic cancer.
One of Bill’s final wishes was to be wed to the love of his life before he departed this world. On November 21st Bill married Jessica Davis at the Grace United Methodist Church in Independence, Kansas. Wild Bill was...
John Watson
Nov 26, 2022
John “Gilbert” Watson passed away November 26, 2022 at the age of 83.
He was born in Independence, KS to Carl and Paraline Watson of rural Wayside. He is survived by one brother, Phillip (Pat) Watson of rural Havana. He was united in marriage to Lavonna R. Hannigan of Elk City, KS on January 18,1959. She preceded him in death...
Bradley Tucker
Nov 22, 2022
Bradley Dean Tucker, 64 of Independence, Kansas passed away at his home in Independence on Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
Bradley was born in Independence, Kansas on July 1, 1958, the son of Harold and Mary Lou (Henderson) Tucker. Bradley attended Independence High School. Through the years, Bradley worked a few jobs, but he always returned to his...
William "Bill" Laforge
Nov 19, 2022
William “Bill” J. LaForge, age 84 of Independence, Kansas passed away Saturday, November 19, 2022 at the Medicalodges in Independence, Kansas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 25, 2022 at the St. Andrews Catholic Church with Father Zach Pinaire officiating. Burial will follow in the Calvary Cemetery under the direction of...
Thelma Dulohery
Nov 15, 2022
Thelma Louise Dulohery, 88 of Independence passed away at Montgomery Place Nursing Facility on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
Thelma was welcomed into this world on January 24, 1934 in Liberty, Kansas to Albert and Ada (Troutman) Hinrichs. After growing up in Liberty, and attending local schools, Thelma married Edward Dulohery in Miami, Oklahoma on April 19, 1952....
Linda Tweedy
Nov 15, 2022
Linda Carol Tweedy, 72 of Independence, Kansas passed away Tuesday, November 15th, 2022, in Joplin Missouri.
Linda was born September 18th, 1950, in Goodland, Kansas to John and Neva (Hillman) Tweedy. She attended high school at Dodge City High School and graduated in 1968. She went on to further her education at Emporia State University, graduating with...
Donald Vannoster
Nov 13, 2022
Donald Ray Vannoster (age 75) of Jefferson, Kansas, gained his angel wings at 7:12pm on November 13, 2022 surrounded by close family.
Don was born to Virgil Vannoster and Martha Noblitt-Vannoster in Nowata, Oklahoma on September 22, 1947. He attended several grade schools in Oklahoma and Kansas, graduating from Wayside High School in Kansas in 1965. After...