Eileen Marie Strong |1943-2022|

Eileen Marie Strong, 78, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, January 27, 2022. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, and friend. Eileen was born February 19, 1943 in Hampton, Iowa in Franklin County. As a child, she grew up living on farms in Iowa and Minnesota.

Education was very important to Eileen. She graduated from Minnesota (Mankato) State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and earned a Master of Education in Elementary and Special Education from Eastern New Mexico State University. She taught school 30 years, teaching grades 1-8 in Iowa, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma. She earned much recognition while teaching, including Teacher of the Year Semi-finalist in Oklahoma City, Disney Hand National Teacher of the Year, Excellent Educator of the Year, and awarded first runner-up of the Burlington Character Award in Oklahoma City.

She married Richard M. Strong, becoming the mother of his three daughters, on November 26, 1969 in Casper, Wyoming. She and Richard were devoted to each other for a little over 40 years at the time of his death, July 6, 2010. Eileen is survived by her three daughters, Linda and husband Craig Calderwood of Sterling, KS, Cinda and husband David Wiley of Wichita, KS, and Lauri and husband Craig Terhune of Mulvane, KS. She had 11 grandchildren: Joclyn and Troy Brodhagen, David II and Jenny Wiley, Aaron Calderwood, Amy and Connor Jones, Tyson and Tristin Terhune, and Shelby and Tyler Miller. Eileen was also blessed with 13 great-grandchildren. Entertaining family and friends at the house for holidays and special occasions was a joy. Love, patience, compassion, and helping others were the key to her living. She is also survived by a twin sister, Evelyn Johnston of Seattle, WA and her family.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge, KS. People are encouraged to wear masks.

Eileen believed strongly in education and was very proud of the memorial scholarship set up as the Richard M. and Eileen M. Strong Scholarship at Kansas State University. The scholarship is awarded yearly to a student from Barber County. Please send memorials to the Richard M. and Eileen M. Strong Scholarship in care of Larrison Funeral Home, 120 E. Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104.
Condolences may be left at www.larrisonmortuary.com