Dorothy Fern Hodgson Hosley Koontz passed away Dec. 12, 2014, in Littleton, Colo. She was 100 years old. Always known as “Fern,” she was the youngest of seven children and the only girl. All of her brothers preceded her in death.
Fern was born on a farm in Linn County, Kan., to Stephen and Cora Dell Hodgson. She graduated from Parker High School in Parker, Kan., and attended Pittsburg College in Pittsburg, Kan., where she met and married James L Hosley in 1936. They lived briefly in Cullison, Kan., later moving to Salina, Kan., where James taught at Salina High School and where their daughters Saundra Beth and Karen Lea were born.
Fern was active in the First Methodist Church and many other groups and organizations. For many years she was a poll worker for local, state and national elections. For a time she ran her own nursery school. After the death of her husband in 1961, Fern served for three years as a sorority housemother at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan.
Fern later married Arthur Allen of Topeka, Kan., where they lived for 25 years. In 1992, she moved to Littleton, Colo., to be near family. In 2001 she married former high school sweetheart, Donald Koontz of Garnett, Kan. They spent more than 10 happy and active years together. Don Koontz passed away in January of 2012, at age 100.
Fern’s interests included sewing, cooking, playing cards, oil painting, and flower arranging. She made several beautiful and intricate quilts for family members. Her family compiled many of her recipes into a cookbook. Among her most beloved recipes were apple crisp, German chocolate cake, angel food cake, Christmas cutter cookies, vegetable beef stew, rhubarb pie and caramel nut cinnamon rolls.
Fern is survived by her daughters Saundra Sheffer of San Dimas, Calif., and Karen Barrett of Littleton, Colo.; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Memorial service and inurnment of ashes will be in Salina, Kan., in the spring of 2015.
OBITUARIES
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]
Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Ruth Ann Antrim, formerly Hueston, passed away July 7, 2025, after bravely battling cancer for many years. Ruth Ann was 74 years old. She lived and worked in the Mound City and Fort Scott, Kan., areas her... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025
NEWS
Special: Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in Linn County

A Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) resurfacing project on U.S. 69 in Linn County will begin the week of July 28. The project will resurface U.S. 69 with ultrathin bonded asphalt for just over 7 miles from Pleasanton to just north of... [More]
Pleasanton FD again at center of heated discussion

The majority of heated discussion came at the end of the Pleasanton City Council meeting Monday night during council discussion when Council people Bill Skipper and Angelina Randall squared off concerning the recent ISO inspection that occurred at the fire department. Skipper... [More]
La Cygne city to be below revenue neutral

Ad valorem revenue will decrease by almost $16,600, levy by over 7.6 mills The city of La Cygne will not only be revenue neutral but actually below neutral on its 2026 municipal budget. That was the report from Jodi Wade, city clerk, at last Wednesday’s regular... [More]
More News
- USD 362 files revenue-neutral exceedances
- Commissioners discuss airport future, request more information
- SPECIAL: Resurfacing on U.S. 59 in Anderson County to begin in August 4
- Commissioners vote to exceed revenue neutral
- Mulberry Limestone CUP approved by P & Z
- SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees
- Commissioners discuss various budgets
- City learns of fire gear condition
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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

