thumb

Linn County News

Published April 2, 2025

 

Donna Lee (Bishop) Stites, age 84, of Mound City, Kan., passed away peacefully in her sleep March 26, 2025, at the Olathe Medical Center, after an extended illness.

Born on Feb. 13, 1941, the third child of Jacob and Erma (Giffin) Bishop, the only girl in the middle of five brothers, she learned to tolerate orneriness and teasing at an early age. Living with these brothers made her strong and independent with a wicked sense of humor.

On Oct. 25, 1959, Donna married Ralph Stites after a three-month courtship that started on a blind date. Shortly after the wedding they moved to Galveston, Texas, but by Christmas were so homesick for Kansas they moved back. After buying the farm between Blue Mound and Mound City in 1961, from Ralph’s parents, Donna never moved again.

To this union, three children were born, Linda, Andy, who passed away in 1968 at the age of 4, and Lori.

Donna loved Ralph and Ralph loved the farm, so Donna happily lived farm life for 64 years.

Donna did lots of canning and preserving, because Donna loved Ralph, and Ralph loved huge gardens.

Donna loved Ralph and Ralph loved Donna. Together they made a great team, supporting and encouraging each other for 52 years.

Donna loved to sew, knit, cook, bake, collect antiques, refurnish furniture and remodel her home. Since early childhood, she was a lover and collector of buttons. She belonged to the National Button Society and the Kansas State Button Society, five times traveling out of state to attend the National Button Convention.

Donna was an active member of the Wall Street Christian Church, teaching Sunday School and organizing lots of Bible School crafts. She took pride in the fact that her great-great-grandfather, Thomas McGee was a founding member of the church. She loved playing her autoharp and helped organize the Wall Street Christian Strings.

In addition to being a farm wife, Donna ran a wallpapering business, and worked as a para for the 1st and 2nd grade before going to work for the Linn County Motor Vehicle Department. She retired after 20-plus years to follow her dream job, being the “lunch lady” at the Blue Mound Grade School. After loving on, cooking for, and entertaining “her kids” for several years, she retired back to farm life and her many hobbies.

Donna was preceded in death by husband Ralph; son Andy; her parents; and brothers Waverly, Danny and Mike. Donna is survived by her two daughters Linda (Jim) of Mound City, and Lori of Olathe; two brothers, Roy Bishop of Olathe and Lester Bishop (Vickie) of Moran; three grandchildren, Grant (Amee) of Pittsburg, Heather Tildes (Jeff) of Lawrence, and Allison Simons of Mound City; three great-grandchildren, Kolby, William and Harper; as well as a host of extended family and friends.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 31, 2025, at the Wall Street Church. Burial will be in the Sunny Slope Cemetery, Blue Mound, Kan. Memorial contributions are suggested to Ronald McDonald House. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.

OBITUARIES

Morgan Leon Wakefield ~ 05-08-1996 to 09-09-2025

thumb

  Linn County News Published September 17, 2025   Morgan Leon Wakefield was called home to heaven on September 9, 2025. Morgan was born May 8, 1996, in Olathe, Kan., to Shane and Debbie (Snyder) Wakefield of Mound City, Kan. From an early age, he showed a... [More]

Jackie “Jack” Howard Shroyer ~ 01-24-1940 to 09-04-2025

thumb

  Linn County News Published September 10, 2025   Jackie "Jack" Howard Shroyer, age 85 of Prescott, Kan., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Jack was born the son of Eugene and Lillie Ruth (Blangy) Shroyer on Jan. 24, 1940, in Prescott, Kan. He... [More]

Wallace “Mack” Probasco ~ 07-05-1959 to 09-02-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published September 10, 2025   Wallace “Mack” Probasco, age 66 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away at his home on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. He was born the son of Francis Mack and Edna E. Wallace Probasco on July 5, 1959, in Fort Scott,... [More]

More Obituaries

View All Obituaries

NEWS

Pleasanton council votes 2-2 on RNR, budget

thumb

The Pleasanton City Council met on Monday, Sept. 15, and began the meeting with a hearing on the revenue neutral rate (RNR) followed by the budget hearing. With no one in the audience coming forward to speak on either, the hearings were opened and closed without incident and... [More]

Mine Creek Battlefield bridge ribbon cutting this weekend

thumb

JLHS sophomore Aron Coleman is not new to community projects; this time he’s completed a bridge for his Eagle Scout badge so those using trails at Mine Creek Battlefield can traverse from one side of Mine Creek to the other. The ribbon cutting commemorating the new bridge... [More]

USD 346 to exceed RNR; approves budget

thumb

During the revenue neutral hearing and the budget hearing for the district on Sept. 8, the USD 346 Board of Education voted to approve the superintendents’ recommendation to exceed revenue neutral with a proposed mill rate of 54.144.  The board then approved the... [More]

More News

SPORTS

Wade and Schneider start impressive girls’ golf season for the Buffalos and Hawks

thumb

Both the Prairie View and Jayhawk Linn girls’ golf teams competed at Fort Scott and Pittsburg this past week. The teams traveled to Fort Scott on Sept. 9 to compete in the Fort Scott Invitational and then to Pittsburg on Sept. 11 to compete in the Colgan Invitational. ... [More]

Turnovers and other mistakes see Hawks fall at Anderson County 27-6

thumb

The Jayhawk Linn football team hosted Anderson County on Sept. 12 for their first “home” game of the season. Anderson County is class 3A in football compared to Jayhawk’s 1A and is the Pioneer League so the Hawks had their work cut out for them. Jayhawk played... [More]

Prairie View girls’ cross country leads the Buffalos at Fort Scott

thumb

The Prairie View girls’ cross-country team traveled to Fort Scott for the Fort Scott Invitational on Sept. 11. The Buffalos performed well at the meet on both the girls’ and boys’ side. The girls in particular performed well as the 7th grade girls got 1st... [More]

More Sports

PLEASANTON WEATHER

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

View Legals for Free