Willis Strong

(From Konantz Warden Funeral Home)

Willis Strong passed away on November 14, 2023, at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. He had been receiving treatments the past three years for Squamous Cell Carcinoma. 

Willis was born September 29, 1938, to the late Don and Hope Strong west of Mitchell, SD. He lived there nine years before moving to Missouri in 1947 with his parents. Willis attended El Dorado Springs High School and graduated in 1956. 

He worked at the El Dorado Springs Sun before being drafted into the service where he served in Germany from 1961-1963 for the US Army. Upon returning home he went back to work at the El Dorado Springs Sun. 

Willis later went to Witt printing and there after was introduced to his wife Billy. They married on May 27, 1966, in El Dorado Springs, Mo. They lived in El Dorado until 1967 at which they moved to Redfield, KS while he took a job at the Fort Scott Tribune as a linotype operator for the daily paper. 

In December of 1975 he moved to Liberal, Mo when they purchased the Liberal News. They operated the paper for almost 11 years as one of the last letterpress newspapers before converting it to offset and then selling it in September of 1986. 

After selling the paper Willis went to work at the Nevada Habilitation Center in Nevada, Mo. And retired from there in 2008 after 20 years. While working in Nevada he developed a passion for planting flowers. After work or on days off he could be found in the garden tending to his gladiolas. Oh, did he have many and he could tell you all the colors and kinds. If it wasn’t glads he also planted canna’s and hostas. Later on, he raised chickens at his son’s farm east of town for several years. He loved raising the chickens with Mom and taking care of them.

In retirement he kept busy volunteering with the senior citizens dinners in Liberal, Barton County Historical Society in Lamar, the Civic Group in Liberal where he helped annually with the Prairie Day Festival. Also was part of the American Legion and enjoyed his passion of writing and taking pictures. He could be found with Mom at events taking pictures and never went anywhere without his notebook and pen to capture his notes. 

I remember many hours of him sitting at his computer writing articles or his weekly column for the Lamar Democrat. Many people enjoyed his column, and he wrote it each week until the last few months. Willis was a member of the Baptist Church in Liberal and active in many events. He will be greatly missed by all for his caring ways, gift to gab (never met a stranger) and his humor. 

Survivors include his wife Billy Strong of Liberal, Mo; daughter, Carol Strong of Corning, NY; nieces Isabella and Victoria and lifelong friend Lori Beckwith. He is also survived by a sister Shirley Fletcher of Joplin, Mo., and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

In lieu of flowers the family asked that donations be made in care of Konantz-Warden Funeral Home to the First Christian Church in Liberal or the Barton County Senior Center. 

The family will receive visitors on Sunday November 19, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Konantz Warden Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at Konantz Warden Funeral Home on Monday November 20, 2023 at 1:00 PM.