Freida Mae Depe

Freida Mae Depe, 79, of Blanchard, Oklahoma, went to heaven to be with her Lord on July 22, 2019 at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City where she was surrounded by family and loved ones. 

She was born on August 14, 1939 in Lakin, Kansas to Henry and Nellie (Cole) Kleeman.  She grew up being a farm girl and attended schools there.  After high school, she attended Garden City Junior College where she met the love of her life, John R. Depe.

On June 7, 1959, she and John were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Deerfield, Kansas.  They lived in Emporia, Kansas until John graduated from college.  They also lived in Salina, Kansas; Edmond and Norman, Oklahoma; Springfield, Virginia; Lawton, Oklahoma and Blanchard, Oklahoma. Freida was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom while their three children were growing up.  She then worked at the Cleveland County Election Board in Norman and for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.  After their retirement, she helped build their new home on an acreage near Lawton.

Freida was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Norman and formerly St. John Lutheran Church in Lawton, where she served for a time as choir director and was a member of the Dorcas Guild.  She was also a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield, VA and sang with the choir at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.  Freida was a member of the Gulf Coast Sports Travel Club, Family Motor Coach Association and the Wichita Mountain Good Sams Camping Club.  She enjoyed music and had the privilege of singing on the “Living Christmas Tree” in Lawton for approximately 12 years.  She loved traveling in their RV, visiting 48 states in it.  She enjoyed gardening and flowers and crossword puzzles.

Survivors include her husband of the home; son John Kent Depe and wife Hillary of Edmond, Oklahoma; daughters Roxanne and husband Kevin Stephenson, and Jacquelyn and husband Neal Taptto, all of Norman, Oklahoma.  Also by three grandsons, G.C. Gibson III and Gavin Avery of Norman, and John Christopher Depe and wife Julissa, of Edmond, Oklahoma.  Other survivors are a sister, Agnes Molz of Deerfield, Kansas.  She was preceded in death by her parents, four infant siblings and a granddaughter, Mandy Taptto.

Visitation will be held from 4pm-8pm on Thursday, July 25 at Havenbrook Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Friday, July 26, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Norman with Pastor David Nehrenz officiating.  Burial will follow at Warren Cemetery in Norman. 

Memorial contributions can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or to the Stephenson Cancer Center-OU Medicine.