Tena Svoboda
Tena Kaye Svoboda went to be with her heavenly father on Thursday, April 6, 2023, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday April 14, at the First Christian Church of Kingfisher with Rev. Gene Massey officiating. Burial will follow at the Kingfisher Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of Sanders Funeral Service. Tena was born Feb. 21, 1964, to Gary and Kayleen (Harrison) Helt in Kingfi sher.
Tena graduated from Kingfisher High School in 1982.
She then attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she obtained an associate business degree in 1983.
Tena married the love of her life, Steve Svoboda, on Aug. 4, 1984. They were blessed with two children, Kendra and Kyle.
Tena worked for Solomon Abstract Company for 12 years. She then worked for Boeckman Ford before starting at Pioneer as an operator.
She continued to work at Pioneer for 23 years as a CABS representative.
She was an active member of the First Christian Church of Kingfisher, where she served in numerous positions throughout the years, including playing the handbells.
Tena was also a member of the Kingfisher Elks Women’s Auxiliary for many years.
One of Tena’s biggest blessings was being Mimi to her five grandchildren. She loved spending time with them and the rest of her family.
Tena always had an eye for decorating. She loved helping decorate for weddings with her friend Joyce and she enjoyed making floral arrangements.
Tena also enjoyed going to the lake with her family throughout the years. Tena is survived by her husband of 38 years, Steve Svoboda; her children Kendra and Kevan Cox of Kingfisher and Kyle and Chris Svoboda of Okarche; her grandchildren Kannon and Kaelyn Cox, Gabriella Mayer, Mason and Kori White. She is also survived by her mother, Kayleen Helt; her brother Tary and Charlotte Helt, all of Kingfisher, and her sister-in-law Sandra and Rolf Richter of Broken Arrow; her nieces and nephews Emmaly Helt and Byron and McCayla Helt, all of Kingfisher, Shelly Patterson of Claremore, Chris and Shelly Richter of Ponca City, and Carrie Svoboda of Stillwater.
She is also survived by her uncles Lary and Diana Helt and Melvin Harrison of Kingfisher. She also had numerous cousins that she adored. Tena was preceded in death by her father Gary Helt, her in-laws Elvin and Evelyn Svoboda and her brother-in-law Elvin Svoboda Jr. She was also preceded in death by her uncle Norman and Shirley Harrison. Memorialdonations can be made to First Christian Church, 102 S. 7th, Kingfisher, OK 73750; Memory Lane, P.O. Box 21, Kingfisher, OK 73750; and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 SE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104