Leland Vanfosson

Leland Wilbur VanFosson, son of the late Henry and Lela (Gates) VanFosson, was born September 15, 1924, in Elmo, Missouri, and passed away February 16, 2018, in Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, at 93 years, 5 months, and one day of age.

Leland graduated from Elmo High School, attended North West Missouri State, and then moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was employed by the Great Lakes Pipeline Company. This position involved surveying oil pipelines from Kansas City, Missouri, to North Dakota.

While working for the pipeline company, Leland met his future spouse, Berniece Swofford. There were married on November 16, 1952, at Glenwood Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Two children were born to this union, Brian and Kathy.

Leland left his job with Great Lakes to work for the Missouri Highway Department in Kansas City. His job was to inspect the construction of roads and bridges in Kansas City. These roads and bridges are still being used today.

In 1972, Leland and Berniece moved to Mountain Grove, Missouri, and had a dairy and beef farm. Leland took pride in his work and enjoyed the farm life. Leland and Berniece were members of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Mountain Grove. Leland enjoyed the fellowship of the members of the church. They lived in Mountain Grove for forty years until moving to Springfield, Missouri, because of health issues.

Besides his parents, Leland was preceded in death by three brothers, Donald VanFosson, Darrell VanFosson, and Delmar VanFosson, and by two sisters-in-law, Ruth VanFosson and Pauline Plummer, and four brothers-in-law, Bill Plummer, Darrell Swofford, Dewey Swofford, and George Swofford .

He is survived by his loving wife, Berniece VanFosson, his son, Brian VanFosson, and his wife, Elaine, of Springfield, Missouri, his daughter, Kathy Coughlin and her husband, Bob, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, two grandchildren, Elizabeth VanFosson and Ryan Coughlin, sisters-in-law, Lanore Sanders, Willie Swofford, Wila Dean Swofford, and Yvonne Swofford, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Melvadean and Chuck Peterson and Wanda and Jack Smith, several nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends who will miss him.