Mary Linenbroker



Mary Frances Linenbroker, 94, died June 27, 2023, at Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, Kansas.

She was born July 30, 1928 in Woodward, Oklahoma, the daughter of Frank Henry and Alma Otilia (Skoog) Stultz.

Throughout her life, Mary lived in many places -- Crane, Springfield, and Warrensburg, Missouri; Norton, Salina, Wichita, and Havensville, Kansas; Sandwich, Illinois; Dayton, Ohio; and she spent Summers in Almont, Colorado. But her heart belonged to Greensburg, Kansas, where she laid down roots in 1965 -- surviving the May 4, 2007 EF5 tornado while protecting her beloved dog QT Pie from beneath a blanket in a closet - - and she will be laid to rest in Greensburg’s Fairview Cemetery. 



She moved to Enid, Oklahoma in 1976 and returned to Greensburg in 1979. Mary graduated from Warrensburg High School in 1947, involved in many activities including Band and Drill Team Cheerleader. She then attended Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri.  

Mary received a substitute teacher’s certificate and her first elementary teaching job, at age 20, was in a one-room schoolhouse in Elsey, Missouri in 1949.  In 1961, she taught kindergarden in St. Marys, Kansas, then taught from 1963-1965 at another one-room schoolhouse in Cloverleaf, Kansas. She ended her teaching career with a fifth grade class in Mullinville, Kansas in 1966-1967.

Mary also worked at Kiowa County Memorial Hospital as an office clerk, receptionist and switchborad operator and studied to achieve her ART, accredited record technician certification in medical records. In retirement, Mary worked with children at the Iriquois Center and enjoyed greeting visitors at the Big Well. 

A blue-ribbon quilter, Mary loved working with her hands, creating works of art through crafting, quilting and watercolor painting. She liked to share her gifts by teaching others, and her love of beauty and color extended to her garden, where she grew eye-catching flowers.

Mary was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Extension Club, Joymakers Club, and played with several Bridge Clubs. She joined the Oak Leaf Chapter #350 Order of the Eastern Star in 1949 in Crane, Missouri and was with the Star of Hope Chapter #193 in Greensburg, Kansas until 2017, earning her 60 year certificate in OES.

On July 16, 1950, Mary married Ralph M. Linenbroker in Crane, Missouri. He preceded her in death January 20, 1994 along with brother Phillip H. Stultz, October 1, 1931. Son David L. Linenbroker, May 17, 2017. Special friend Don Richards, July 4, 2018. Son-in-Law, Chris F. Fredrickson, January 1, 2023. 

She is survived by daughter Melanie A. Fredrickson of Huntington, Texas. Daughter-in-law Ada Linenbroker, Liberal, Kansas. Grandson Chris K. Linenbroker and wife Penny, Liberal, Kansas. Grandson Benjamin S. Greeley, Denver, Colorado. And two great grandchildren, Kailey and Divan Linenbroker, Liberal, Kansas.

The Celebration of Life and Remembrance will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 1, 2023 at Greensburg Methodist Church with Pastor Terry Mayhew presiding. Friends may call from 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023 at Fleener Funeral Home. Internment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Greensburg, Kansas immediately following services on Saturday.

Memorials are suggested to the Kiowa Senior Center or to the Twilight Theater, in care of Fleener Funeral Home, PO Box 41, Greensburg, Kansas 67054.