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Linn County News

Published June 8, 2022

Alice Laverne Stude Widner was born March 18, 1931, in Haskell County, Kan., to John and Grace Jones Stude. She grew up and attended school in Copeland, Kan. She departed this life June 5, 2022. On Sept. 4, 1949, Alice married LaMonte(Lem) Widner and they spent the first few years of their married life in New Jersey where their son, Jim, and daughter Roselynn, were born. They returned to Copeland, Kan., in 1955 and lived there until 1965. 

During that time, Alice was busy raising her children, now numbering four with the addition of son, Danny, and daughter, Jeannie. In 1965, Alice and Lem and family moved to El Dorado Springs, Mo., where they owned and operated the C&H Motel. Alice also had a part-time job as a disc-jockey with the local radio station, KESM. In 1970 the family moved to La Cygne, Kan. Alice and Lem worked for the Allendale Camps as caretakers. A few years later they moved to Trading Post to run the Trading Post Museum. In 1998, Lem lost his battle with cancer. Alice continued to run the museum until 2014 when she finally retired at the age of 82. During the years at Trading Post, Alice wrote a byline, “Trading Post News,” for the county newspaper, The Linn County News. She usually included local historical tidbits in her articles. Alice became a devoted genealogist of local families and often gathered information for out-of-county people who had ancestors from this area. She was also a Civil War buff and became an expert on Linn County and its part in the Civil War. After retiring, Alice moved to La Cygne and had her own apartment. She enjoyed being an advisor, and a surrogate mother and grandmother to her friends and neighbors in her apartment complex. At the age of 90, Alice was no longer able to live by herself. She moved to the Louisburg Healthcare and Rehab Center and lived her remaining days there. 

Those of her family called home before her include her parents; five brothers, Lawrence, Howard, John, Vernon and Frank; and a sister, June Stude Sumpter. Her husband, Lem; son, Danny and his wife Cathy; daughter, Jeannie, and her husband, John Orth; daughter-in-law, Sherry Widner and grandson, Matthew Widner, also pre-deceased her. Those surviving include a son, Jim Widner, of Adrian, Mo.; and daughter, Roselynn, and her husband, Wilbur Armstrong, of La Cygne. Surviving grandchildren are Jeremy, Jennifer, and Jared (Lindsey) Armstrong, Dustin (Lauren) Widner, Logan (Lisa) Widner, Jodi (James) Meeks, Katie (Brent) Knop, Alexis Widner, and Krystal (Austin) Davidson. Alice also had 10 great-grandchildren. 

Memorial service 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at the Calvary Baptist Church, La Cygne. Visitation 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to Linn County Historical Society. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

OBITUARIES

Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

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Linn County News Published July 2, 2025   Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith passed away Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community in Manhattan.  She was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Gladys (Goldsmith)... [More]

Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025

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Linn County News Published July 2, 2025   Ron Arbogast, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born Aug. 31, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan.,... [More]

Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025

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Linn County News Published June 25, 2025   Richard "Dick" Smith, age 83, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in Olathe, Kan., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions... [More]

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PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

NOTICE:

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Due to a scheduling conflict, the commissioners will not be meeting today, June 25th, for a second budget workshop. The meeting has been rescheduled for July 2nd. 

Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners

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Requests declaratory judgement that roads are private   The Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association, Inc. (TLOA), filed a lawsuit in Linn County District Court on June 6, 2025, against the Linn County Board of County Commissioners requesting a declaratory judgement from... [More]

Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy

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On June 20, following an extensive investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Attorney’s Office filed a case in district court charging Erik Hellner, a Sugar Valley Lakes resident, with six separate felonies. The case originally stems from... [More]

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SPORTS

Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship

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The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Wichita to compete in the Kansas Trapshooting State tournament. The tournament features more than 110 high schools and over 1,500 student athletes. Pleasanton/Jayhawk compete in the 2A competition which happened on June... [More]

Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad

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Prairie View’s head boys’ wrestling Coach Joey Ewalt does more for the sport than just coaching the Buffalos, he has made an impact on the sport as a wrestler, coach and official. Ewalt began his wrestling career at the very young age of four. His father, Mike Ewalt,... [More]

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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

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