Alva Review-Courier -

Funeral services for Melvin 'Bud' Bickford will be Thursday, December 20, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. at Alva Wesleyan Church with Reverend John Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Hardtner Cemetery in Hardtner, Kansas, at 3 p.m. under the direction of Wharton Funeral Chapel. Online condolences may be made at http://www.whartonfuneralchapel.com.

Melvin Cecil, son of Florence Lucille (Long) and Cecil Floyd Bickford, was born May 23, 1928, in Freedom, Oklahoma. He passed away December 16, 2018, in Kiowa, Kansas at the age of 90 years, 6 months and 23 days.

He attended the Freedom school system and graduated with the class of 1947. As a senior in high school he was an All-State baseball pitcher.

Following high school he attended Oklahoma A&M for 2 years. He worked at the Crow Ranch grooming the show cattle and working the show circuit across the Midwest.

Bud returned to the Hardtner area in the early '50s and met Gloria Maurer. On May 23, 1953, they were married at St. John’s United Church in Hardtner, Kansas. To their marriage three daughters, Terry Elaine, Anita Cecile and Rhonda Jean were born.

In 1974 he graduated from NWOSU. After graduating he worked as a livestock inspector for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture until his retirement.

Bud loved raising sheep and shorthorn cattle. He enjoyed actively helping his daughters, grandkids and many area youth in 4H and FFA livestock programs. In his spare time he enjoyed playing card games with family and friends and bowling in men’s and mixed leagues and competing in national competitions.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Florence; his loving wife, Gloria; an infant daughter, Rhonda Jean; a daughter, Terry Liggenstoffer, and a sister, Wanda Hackney.

Bud is survived by his daughter and her husband, Anita and David Noland; five grandchildren, Heather and Travis McGregor, Trey and Sarah Noland, Coby Noland, H.J. and Raelynn Liggenstoffer, and Ky Liggenstoffer; a great grandson, Mason McGregor. He is also survived by a sister, Iris Jean Owensby; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.