Aileen Thompson Hurst, 98, of Salinas, Calif., passed away Dec. 8, 2016. She was born Nov. 8, 1918, in Prescott, Kan., to Claude B. and Olga (Faber) Thompson.
She was raised on a farm near Hume, Mo. Aileen grew up on the farm with her family and graduated valedictorian from Hume High School in 1935, two years ahead of her peers. Hume was a very small town, with little or no extracurricular activities. That meant her day was consumed with getting to school very early each day to hitch up and drive the horse-drawn school bus, then go immediately home to help milk up to 80 cows.
When she was 12 or 13, during a Sunday school trip to the Fort Scott public swimming pool, she noticed a handsome man showing off on the diving board. The next time they met he was playing trumpet in a local dance band. Aileen and Fred Hurst were married Sept. 4, 1941. Fred taught music in a number of Kansas public schools until moving to Hutchinson in 1955. At that time, Fred joined with George Johnson to manage, and ultimately own, the Hutchinson Music Center until Fred’s death in 1975. Aileen worked as chief accountant for Gano-Horace Grain until her retirement in 1979.
After her husband’s passing Aileen traveled extensively through Europe, Africa, Alaska, Panama and (in particular) Australia. Her sons were both Marine officers. As they were transferred from one duty station to another she moved nearby to be with her grandchildren.
Aileen is survived by her sons, Lt. Col. Stephen F. Hurst, USMC (Ret) of Salinas, and Maj. Douglas M. Hurst, USMC (Ret) of Montpelier, Va.; grandchildren Jennifer Hughes of Marina, Calif., Frederick D. Hurst, Fullerton, Calif., Heather Cashman of Haleiwa, Hawaii, Caitlin Hurst of Crown Point, Ind., Andrew Hurst, Richmond, Va., and Laura Hurst, Springfield, Va.; great-grandchildren Lizzy Stanton of San Francisco, Calif., Madeline Hughes of Marina, Bobby Hurst of Fullerton, Calif., and Jacob Cashman, Dylan Cashman and Taylor Cashman of Haleiwa.
No funeral services are planned. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kan., at a date to be determined.
OBITUARIES
Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025

Linn County News Published June 4, 2025 Gary Ray Johnson, age 90 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on May 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation... [More]
Rees Lyle Shattuck ~ 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025

Linn County News Published May 28, 2025 Rees Lyle Shattuck, age 93, Prescott, Kan., passed away Monday, May 26, 2025. He was born on Aug. 31, 1931, in Boicourt, Kan., the son of Rees Wilbur and Lulu Elizabeth Black Shattuck. He served his country in the United... [More]
Wayne Eldon Long ~ 07-03-1942 to 05-24-2025

Linn County News Published May 28, 2025 Wayne Eldon Long, age 82, of Parker, Kan., passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Wayne was born on July 3, 1942, in Garnett, Kan., the son of Homer Leon and Margaret Ethel (Collins) Long. He was one of three children and... [More]
More Obituaries
- John Ted Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- Zachary Eldon White ~ 06-12-1992 to 04-29-2025
- Rebecca S. Landers 12-30-1964 to 04-18-2025
- Ira Johnathan “Sonny” Robinson ~ 04-10-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Paul Dean Benham ~ 09-23-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Bonnie Faye Bishop ~ 03-25-1949 to 04-22-2025
- Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025
- Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Commission to vote Monday on Parker Center lease

Linn County commissioners plan to vote at their weekly 9 a.m. meeting next Monday, June 2, on a 99-year lease agreement with Parker and their Senior Center building. At Tuesday's weekly Commission meeting, delayed by a day because of Monday's federal Memorial Day observance,... [More]
Despite Chamber loss, Blast in the Park fireworks will go off

Council actions include split vote on deed conveyance Hearing of the disbandment of its local Chamber of Commerce, La Cygne leaders have verbally concurred that the city’s part in the annual Blast in the Park festivities will go on. Following that Chamber notification... [More]
Linn Valley discusses city hall funding sources

The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, with Mayor Lew Donelson presiding and all council members present. Donelson informed the council of two potential opportunities for funding a new City Hall building. ... [More]
More News
- USD 362 board rejects adding bus A/C
- SPECIAL: Blue Mound man seriously injured in accident
- Commissioners make official statement on Tanglewood roads
- La Cygne okays local police firing range
- Mound City council adopts rules for camping
- LCSO releases statement on incident
- Pleasanton requests 1-year automatic aid fire extension
- Commissioners hear update, discuss aid agreement for Pleasanton FD
SPORTS
Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State

The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to West Franklin on May 22 to compete in the 3A Regional. As a team the girls placed 10th with a score of 22.5 points while the boys were fifth with 56 points. This year the top three places in each event qualify for the State meet then... [More]
School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka

The Pleasanton track team traveled to Eureka on May 22 for a 2A Regional track meet. This year the top three places advance to the State meet along the top four times/distances not from the top three from all other Regionals. This year the Jays qualified eight athletes in seven... [More]
More Sports
- Lady Hawks win league as Hawks host TRL meet
- Pleasanton track sets school records at Pioneer League track meet
- Prairie View track sets meet and league records at Wellsville
- Pleasanton baseball splits against Jayhawk
- Prairie View softball defeats Osawatomie and Girard
- Jayhawk baseball earns win over Pleasanton
- Prairie View track has a great day as they host home invitational
- Jayhawk track places top three at Prairie View
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
• Must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning in order to appear in that week's edition.
• Obituaries submitted by funeral homes will be billed to the funeral home.
• Full obituaries submitted by individuals are required to be paid in advance.
• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

