Linn County News
Published July 22, 2020
On July 17, 2020, Bobby Gene Ming Sr. entered into his rest at 70 years of age, at his home in Centerville Kan., surrounded by his loving family.
He will be dearly missed by his faithful, loving wife, caretaker and companion of 52 years, Sherry Diane (Jester) Ming; sons Bobby Jr. and Jonathan; and daughters Amber Ming and Cynthia Collins. Bob is now reunited with their deceased infant son, Charles Aaron Ming, who is buried in Wheeler, Texas. Bob was the oldest son of Hoyt Ming (deceased) and Ruby Ming (Robison) and had a younger sister, Sharon Ming, and younger brother Willie, and was preceded in death by sister Dianna Berry.
Bob was born in Mulberry, Ark., April 21, 1950, and the family travelled extensively, pastoring and evangelizing. For many of his teenage years they lived in an RV, and their home base was at the residence of the Jones family in VanBuren, Ark. He and Sherry met at a revival meeting and married early, and were together about a year before Bob was drafted into the U.S. Army. He completed his tour of active duty in 1971 as a paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne, trained in artillery, won honors in the “President’s 100 Marksmanship awards,” and went to school as an auto body repairman. When his active enlistment was completed, the family of three returned from Fayetteville, N.C., to Mulberry, Ark.
Bob eventually pastored in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. During this time he also fell in love with doing street ministry and eventually moved to Kansas City to pastor and work with street people in an urban environment. During the early years he worked in Philadelphia, Penn., with the Teen Challenge drug and alcohol rehab program, and this eventually led to his being the director of Teen Challenge in Kansas City. In later years, Bob felt a challenge to his heart; God spoke to him in prayer to “forget his preconceived ideas.” This led to turning an active church, street and printing ministry over to others. He felt led to seek direction from the Holy Spirit which was sent to “lead and guide us into Truth.” This began a Sabbath experience, where he sought to renew his first love, to honor and refresh his relationship with God himself, rather than clinging to any ministry, work or belief. This wilderness journey led to many personal struggles, but ended with a rooting and grounding of the God who is Truth in his life and the lives of all of his children and many grandchildren.
Bob loved to play the guitar and worship his Lord, and also will be missed sorely for his silly songs and inimitable sense of humor. A dear high school classmate wrote, “Heaven has its hands full now that Bob is home … you know that he will be telling every corny joke he knows to everyone there ... We have all been blessed by his presence and down home Christian wisdom.”
Like Paul in the Bible, Bob often worked with his hands to help support his family and could do almost anything he set his heart on. His many skills were appreciated: carpenter, custom car painter, teacher, welder, electrician, mechanic, heavy equipment operator, inventor, custom hay hauler, salesman, and horse and dog trainer, and he had many other hobbies and creative activities such as building hot rods and trailers.
Kidney failure and heart trouble greatly complicated his last years, but much of his finances and efforts was spent towards the dream of an independent chapel in Centerville, where the lines of church and family blur, where informality creates a place of freedom and fellowship unconstrained with the loving God who has brought him personally through every hardship, every sorrow and every challenge.
When remembering his life, he would want you to laugh, as he so often did, your heart to warm at the thought of his love, and most of all to say he was a unique vessel in the hands of a wonderful God.
OBITUARIES
John Clayton Bowman ~ 02-01-1944 to 08-17-2025

Linn County News Published August 20, 2025 John Clayton Bowman, age 81, Parker, Kan., passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. He was born on Feb. 1, 1944, in Goodrich, Kan., the son of John Thomas “Tom” Bowman and Carrie Theodoshia Shafer Bowman. John attended... [More]
Arnold Joseph Lickteig ~ 05-16-1931 to 07-31-2025

Linn County News Published August 6, 2025 Arnold Joseph Lickteig, age 94, formerly of Greeley, Kan., passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Colonial Oaks Senior Living at Spring Hill in Spring Hill, Kan. Arnie was born on May 16, 1931, on a farm east of Greeley,... [More]
Joe W. Mann ~ 09-02-1951 to 07-26-2025

Linn County News Published July 30, 2025 Joe W. Mann, age 73 of La Cygne, Kan., passed away at his home on Saturday, July 26, 2025. There are no services scheduled at this time. Contributions are suggested to the Schneider Funeral Home and may be sent... [More]
More Obituaries
- Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025
- Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025
- Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025
- Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025
- Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025
- Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025
- Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025
- Jackie Junior “Jack” Hewitt ~ 07-17-1935 to 06-18-2025
NEWS
Linn County News website gets new update

Recently you may have seen our notification on our website or our Facebook page that we were undergoing some changes on our website at www.linncountynews.net. We here at the News are happy to announce those changes are nearly complete. Changes to the website include an easier... [More]
Commissioners vote 1-1 on motion to not exceed revenue neutral

County now required to cut budget to meet the RNR rate BY $837,000 The Linn County commissioners, with Commissioner Jason Hightower absent, began the revenue neutral hearing on Monday, Aug. 25, by welcoming those in the audience and stating the purpose and objective... [More]
Linn Valley looks at option for fire truck purchase, new vehicles

The Linn Valley City Council held a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, with Mayor Lew Donelson presiding and all council members present except for John Weers. City Attorney James Brun was also present. The meeting began with a presentation by city’s financial... [More]
More News
- Sheriff speaks out on employee benefits
- Jayhawk Blast set for Saturday, Sept. 6
- Pleasanton Council readies city for General Pleasonton Days
- Parker 2026 city budget could exceed revenue neutral
- La Cygne proceeds with facilities improvement
- Economic Development Director resigns
- Pleasanton moves forward with streets plan
- USD 344 adopts new cell phone policy
SPORTS
Frog gigging a new ‘old sport’

It’s another one of those…So…stories. So, last weekend was an adventure. I’ve gotten involved with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Wild Foods Academy (WFA) that is a pilot program designed to educate many ‘left-0ut’ people’s... [More]
Fishing Derby kicks off at Linn County Fair

The annual Linn County Fair and Rodeo Fishing Derby was held on the morning of Aug. 9. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks fish biologist Don George has been heading the derby since 1987 and this year was no different. The derby was divided into three age... [More]
Linn County Farm Bureau hosts annual pedal pull

The Linn County Farm Bureau Association hosted the annual kids’ pedal pull on the evening of Aug. 8. Kids 4 to 12 can compete in the event for a chance to earn a spot at the State pedal pull at Hutchinson. Trophies and a place at the State fair was awarded to the... [More]
More Sports
- From the Bleachers – 717
- Annual demo derby kicks off this year’s Linn County Fair and Rodeo
- From the Bleachers - 719
- Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship
- Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest
- PV Cheer has strong performances at UCA Summer Camp 2025
- Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament
- Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship
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
