Connor Lynn Smith passed away at his home in Farmington, Minn., on May 4, 2016, after a long illness.
Connor was born August 8, 1944, on a farm in Linn County, Kan., to Richard Dwight and Faith Junia Kibble Smith.
He attended the one-room Union School until the eighth grade when he moved to the Pleasanton, Kan., schools. His boyhood was spent in the usual pursuits of a Kansas farm boy: hunting, fishing, playing sports and helping his father on the farm. He enjoyed the companionship of his sister and three brothers as well as numerous school and neighborhood friends.
After graduation from Pleasanton Rural High School in 1962, Connor joined the U.S. Naval Reserves on a college deferment. While attending Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kan., he served one weekend a month and two weeks each summer as an airman maintaining aircraft for squadron VA-882 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Olathe, Kan. Connor earned a B.A. in Physical Education in 1967.
To begin his active duty obligation, Connor enrolled in Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla., where he earned his commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy. The new ensign’s first squadron duty assignment was to the Maintenance Department at Naval Training Squadron 25 (VT-25) at NAS Chase Field, Beeville, Texas, where he was responsible for keeping the aircraft operational for the student pilots, who were completing flight training during the years of the Viet Nam War.
From VT-25, Connor was stationed at Fleet Composite Squadron 1 (VC-1), the Aliis, at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. He served as the head of the Squadron Maintenance Department, maintaining a variety of aircraft serving the fleet.
His next assignment was to ship’s company, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) on United States Ship (USS) Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) deployed in the Mediterranean Sea. From the ship’s homeport, Naval Station (NS), Mayport, Fla., Connor made two deployments. He was underway with the ship on one of these cruises when it collided with a Liberian freighter in the Straits of Messina. Both ships sustained damage but there were no casualties.
In July 1976, prior to the decommissioning of the Roosevelt, Connor rotated to shore duty as head of the Maintenance Department for Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 4 (VQ-4) at NAS Patuxent River, Md. His mission during the three years he served in this position was keeping an EC-130 Aircraft in the air 24/7 to enable strategic communication with submerged submarines.
In September 1980, Connor met the carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), in the Indian Ocean where the president of the U.S. had dispatched it in response to the Iran hostage crisis. As AIMD officer, Connor made two other deployments to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic seas from the homeport in NS Norfolk, Va. During the Mediterranean deployment, the Eisenhower participated in the evacuation of U.S. Embassy staff from Beirut, Lebanon, as that country fell into civil war. He was promoted to the rank of commander during his assignment on the Eisenhower, which would be his final sea duty.
From there, he was assigned to NAS Norfolk, Va., as AIMD officer and then, in June 1985, to the staff of the Office of Deputy Chief, Plans, Policy and Operations at the Pentagon. His next tour of duty was down the street in Crystal City, Va., to the staff of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) where he was promoted to the rank of captain. His mission at NAVAIR was Naval Aviation Support Equipment. Connor’s final duty station, beginning in 1989, was at Naval Air Engineering Center, Lakehurst, N.J., later renamed Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, where his mission was Aircraft Platform Interface, providing facilities and services necessary to permit fixed and rotary wing aircraft to operate safely and effectively from ships at sea and from expeditionary airfields. During this five-year tour, he worked in support of Operation Desert Storm.
He retired in September 1994, earning various medals and commendations over his distinguished 27-year military service.
After retiring from the Navy, Connor worked for consulting firms in the northern Virginia area and in Heidelberg, Germany. In 2006, Connor moved to Farmington, Minn., where he owned and operated a Quiznos restaurant. In his retirement he was able to indulge his love of travel both in the United States and Europe.
Connor is survived by his wife, Gloria Smith; two brothers, Wilbur Smith (Verla) and Roger Dean Smith (Joanne); a sister, Coleta Wurtz (Bob); and three children, Lynessa Anne Erler (Gregory) of Burke, Va., Amanda Carol MacRae-Roesch (Craig) of Williamsville, N.Y., and Gregan Robert Smith of Burke, Va. He is also survived by his first wife and the mother of his children, the former Janis Lynn Nesbitt; two granddaughters, McKayla MacRae and Gabriella Erler; a stepdaughter, Annette Grimaldi (Angelo); a stepson, Ricky; three stepgranddaughters, Alexandra Erler and Nichole and Julia Grimaldi; two stepgrandsons, Ryan and Jason Roesch; six nephews and nieces; and other family and friends.
His parents and his brother, Leonard, preceded him in death.
A memorial service was held May 11, 2016, at Henry W. Andersen Mortuary in Apple Valley, Minn., followed by burial on May 12, 2016, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Connor will be remembered for the humor he brought to life and the patriotism with which he served his country.
OBITUARIES
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]
Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025

Linn County News Published July 23, 2025 Jean Driskell, age 82, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, July 18, 2025. Memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation... [More]
Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Burton Clyde Brownback, age 72, Tri-Ko resident in Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born on May 21, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Clyde and Shirley Drake Brownback. He graduated from Prairie View... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025
- Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025
NEWS
Boil Water Advisory Issued for the City of La Cygne, Linn County

TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the City of LaCygne public water supply system located in Linn County. Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice: Boil water for one minute... [More]
Pleasanton PD makes drug arrest during domestic call

On July 24 officers with the Pleasanton Police Department responded to a call for an ongoing domestic issue at 605 E. 5th Street in Cabin 3 with the assistance of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. During the ensuing investigation, it was found that the... [More]
Commissioners review departmental budgets

SEKMHC budget cut During the July 28 meeting, the Linn County Commissioners reviewed several departmental budgets. Discussions began with Linn County Sheriff James Akes. Sheriff Akes explained to commissioners that initially he had budgeted extra hours to cover... [More]
More News
- Wisdom appointed Pleasanton Fire Chief
- Pleasanton Council cuts to get to revenue neutral
- Local residents warn of bad business practices
- Special: Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in Linn County
- Pleasanton FD again at center of heated discussion
- La Cygne city to be below revenue neutral
- USD 362 files revenue-neutral exceedances
- Commissioners discuss airport future, request more information
SPORTS
Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship

Eight members of the Pleasanton Trapshooting Team traveled to Mason, Mich., last week to compete in the USA Clay Target League National Championship. Five members participated in the team event, and all eight competed individually. The team was among 264 qualified teams competing... [More]
Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest

The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team 1 places second at the TRL girls’ coach pitch tournament at Colony. The tournament took place from July 7 to July 9.
More Sports
- Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament
- Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship
- Gratton at Nationals
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
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

