Kenneth Winn McElfresh

Kenneth Winn McElfresh, born May 30, 1931, in Sacramento, California, to Francis and Miriam McElfresh, passed away October 5, 2026, at his home.

Kenneth was the oldest of five siblings. After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Navy and served during the Korean War. Following his military service, he moved to Ohio, where he met Ruth Gray, a waitress at a local diner and the perfect farmer’s daughter. He swept her off her feet, and the two were married on October 13, 1954. Together, they moved to the Denver, Colorado, area, where they began building their life and raising their three children, Dennis, Connie, and Gray.

A skilled welder, Kenneth took pride in his work and enjoyed learning new things. While living in Colorado, he worked on a ski lift and even let his children enjoy rides on the lift while he worked. In 1970, the family moved to the San Diego, California, area, where Kenneth worked for his brother at an equipment rental yard, maintaining equipment after it was returned from rentals.

Kenneth retired in 1990 and eventually moved to Tucson, Arizona. In 2011, he made his way to the Ozarks to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Retirement gave him more time to enjoy the things he loved, including woodworking, cross-stitching, and reading mystery novels. He enjoyed keeping his hands busy and always seemed to find something to work on.

Kenneth is survived by his son, Dennis McElfresh; his daughter, Connie McElfresh; his daughter-in-law, Kim McElfresh; his grandchildren, Ginny (Jacob) Armstrong, Dianne McElfresh, Katie (Justin) Buford, and GW McElfresh; and his great-grandchildren, Joshua, Jerzy, Sydney, Dakota, Olivia, and Holden.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Miriam McElfresh; his siblings, Al, Keith, Don, and Jan; and his youngest son, Gray McElfresh.

Kenneth’s ashes will be buried in the family plot at Trinidad Masonic Cemetery in Trinidad, Colorado at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, and cremation rites are accorded by Adams Crematory.