Harland Richard Rolfs

Harland R. Rolfs, 75, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma passed away on 7 January, 2026. Harland was born to Alvin “Pete” and Johnetta (Kaiser) Rolfs on August 11, 1950 in Ellsworth, KS. During his early years, he enjoyed hiking in the Kansas countryside, amateur hunting, playing sports, cub scouts, working on local wheat farms, and occasionally getting into mischief with his siblings including train hopping to nearby towns. Although suffering from polio at age four, he overcame that illness due to advances in modern science and eventually excelled in football, basketball, and band. His early disability was never an excuse to overcome and excel in any endeavor, becoming Sports King his senior year of high school. He graduated from Geneseo (KS) High School in 1968. The first of his family to attend college, he ventured to Hutchinson Junior College followed by Fort Hays State University where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration in 1972. Following graduation, Harland accepted a job with Phillips 66 in Bartlesville, OK where he resided for the next 54 years. Harland married the love of his life, Claudia Taliaferro of Bartlesville, OK, in 1977. At home, he was known as a loving husband and provider to Claudia, as well as the highest caliber of example and mentorship to his two sons, Eric and Kevin. He was very active in his family’s life and led by example, often by just listening. During his time with Phillips 66, he played on numerous intramural teams and was a notorious ringer on the softball field and the dominoes table. Known as a lynchpin, mentor, and steady advisor in the accounting and tax division at ConocoPhilips, Harland retired in 2019 after 47 years of service to the company. Both inside and outside their home, Harland’s strong, yet quiet and calm presence impacted everyone he encountered. He loved endlessly without judgment and always put family first and others before himself. He had a passion for the mentorship of younger generations, specifically through team sports, and he never hesitated to uplift the young men and women on the multitude of teams he volunteered tireless hours to coach, even garnering the high praise of “best batting practice pitcher” by many. He was always available to listen and provide guidance if needed. Every summer, he looked forward to participating in Kansas wheat harvest with his brother Dennis, sisters Janet and Jolene, and his beloved nephews. And additionally, later in life, he developed a passion for curling with the Tulsa curling club, where he even became captain of a team at the age of 63. He was a Christian and belonged to East Cross Methodist Church where he was a member for the majority of his adult life. In service to the Lord, he used his professional experience in the church and was a volunteer accountant for East Cross, ultimately still offering his services on his last day. He leaves as his legacy his two children: CDR Eric Rolfs (USN) and his wife Lindsey of Park Ridge, IL; and Kevin Rolfs of Norman, OK. He was also most proud the youngest generation of his legacy, his grandchildren: Parker Hill and Mina Lashway-Rolfs. He leaves behind his wife, Claudia, of Bartlesville, OK and his siblings Dennis Rolfs and his dear wife Kathy, Janet Bell, Jolene Amerine, and the memory of his beloved brother Ray Rolfs. His children and grandchildren remember him as: a true man of God, a love for his country, his love for his wife and family, his steady and reasoned countenance, an incredible ability to listen and guide, his centered moral compass which he instilled in his family combined with a high sense of integrity, a wonderfully kind and generous grandfather and uncle, a teacher who led by example, his consistent willingness to sacrifice his own time and, on occasion, finances in support of others, doing things the right way the first time because it is the right thing to do, facilitating countless trips to coach practices and out of town games, trips to chase storms and tornadoes, his quick wit and occasional silliness, a master griller of the T-bone steak, a premier vegetable gardener, an absolute whiz with numbers, and a kind glint in his eye. After cremation under the care of Stumpff Funeral Home and Crematory, funeral service will be scheduled at a later date in Bartlesville, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your local USO, Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), United States Naval Academy Foundation, Girl Scouts of America, American Red Cross, Storm Assist, or East Cross Methodist Church Youth or Benevolence Funds. The family would also like to thank the congregation of East Cross, friends and neighbors in Bartlesville, OK, his family and classmates in Kansas, and all who have supported Harland and Claudia in their 49 years of marriage.

Harland Richard Rolfs

August 11, 1950 - January 7, 2026