Linn County News
Published June 1,2022
Esther was born on a farm southeast of La Cygne on July 20, 1933. She was the second daughter to Bernard L. and Dorothy Lucille Good Phalen. She started her journey to be with her savior on May 29, 2022, at Olathe Health Hospice House.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents Bernard and Dorothy; sister
Betty Sue Phalen Eberts; and husband Walter Raymond Shields.
Esther is survived by her children Robert Bernard Johnston and wife Susan,
Laura Dennae Shields Burke and William Alan Shields and wife Kelley; three
grandsons, Corey Jason Burke and wife Natalie, Philip Phalen Johnston and wife
Nikki and Matthew Vincent Johnston and wife Jacquie. She also leaves 8 very
special great grand-children. Esther was very proud of her children and the
wonderful families they created.
She gave up her senior year of high school to marry Roy Noble Johnston on July 22, 1951. To this union Robert Bernard Johnston was born May 30, 1953. Although they divorced in 1954 they remained lifelong friends. On Dec. 11, 1954, Esther married Walter Raymond Shields and to this union Laura Dennae Shields and William Alan Shields were born. Esther returned to school in the fall of 1962 graduating with the class of 1963. Even though this was a very busy year for her the accomplishment was well worth the effort and she made many lifelong friends.
Esther worked in many jobs over her years. In her teen years she worked for Grace Gettings in her café and helped her parents in the Mobil Gas station at 4th & Market Street. Other jobs included helping mom in Phalen’s Café, book keeper for Wade Quarry, City Clerk for both La Cygne and Pleasanton for nearly 25 years. She also catered alumni banquets as well as weddings and rehearsal dinners. She was also a certified Emergency Medical Technician working for both Linn County and Osawatomie Ambulance service. During the construction of the power plant she bought two houses along Market Street to provide rooms for construction workers along with most evening meals.
Esther had many special skills. Among them was singing which she shared
with her church and, as requested, many funerals and weddings. She also loved
to paint becoming a certified instructor. She set up shop in the old City Hall
building as Esther’s Easel, teaching and sharing her art with others. She was
also an avid quilter and her family and friends enjoy many of them.
She was always available for any project that would improve her home town, La
Cygne. She volunteered her time to the La Cygne and Linn County Historical
Society, La Cygne Alumni Board, Lincoln Township Secretary/Treasurer, Lincoln
and Scott Township Hospital Board as well as the La Cygne City Council.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the Calvary Baptist Church, La Cygne, Kan. Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 3, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Contributions are suggested to Calvary Baptist Church, La Cygne Historical Society or Olathe Hospice House. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Bonnie Faye Bishop ~ 03-25-1949 to 04-22-2025

Linn County News Published April 30, 2025 Bonnie Faye Bishop, age 76, Olathe, Kan., passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025. She was born on March 25, 1949, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of William and Imogene Krueger Carter. After graduating from high... [More]
Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025

Linn County News Published April 30, 2025 Lois A. Murray, age 93, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Overland Park, Kan. Lois was born the daughter of Arlie and Winifred Stanhope Poindexter on Nov. 3, 1931, near Drexel, Mo.... [More]
Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025

Linn County News Published April 23, 2025 Dr. Howard F. Wilson, age 87, of Garnett, Kan., passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at St. Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park, Kan. Howard Frank Wilson was born on Feb. 5, 1938, in Garden City, Mo. He was the... [More]
More Obituaries
- Anna Louise Stites ~ 09-27-1946 to 04-13-2025
- Sandra Kay “Sandy” Crooks ~ 01-08-1949 to 04-13-2025
- Richard Lee Keaton ~ 01-29-1935 to 04-05-2025
- Linda Ann Pruitt ~ 05-08-1953 to 04-07-2025
- Ira “Sonny” Ray Caruthers, Jr. ~ 05-23-1955 to 04-02-2025
- Michelle Lynn Young ~ 05-20-1967 to 04-04-2025
- Phyllis Sybil Colbert ~ 11-23-1935 to 03-28-2025
- Joseph Francis “Mr. Joe” Cunningham ~ 03-17-1967 to 03-31-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Legislative Update

April 18, 2025 Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act, SB 9, prohibits foreign adversaries from purchasing property within 100 miles of a military installation and any foreign adversary ownership of non-residential real property purchased prior to July 1, 2025,... [More]
16 criminal cases from Tanglewood Lake incident dismissed

Late Wednesday afternoon, April 16, orders were filed dismissing all 16 current cases on file in Linn County District Court concerning the Tanglewood Lake gate incident, 14 of which were filed against separate individuals that stemmed from the incident in May 2023. According... [More]
Tanglewood seeks clarification, aid from county

During the April 21 meeting, Linn County Commissioner Jason Hightower reported to his fellow board members that he had met with the Tanglewood Lake board president and a resident the previous week and noted that they wanted a resolution or motion that clarified if the roads are... [More]
More News
- Commission workshop hears of justification for SEKMHC CEO $600,000 salary
- La Cygne police get automatic plate readers
- Notice
- Public comment results in allegations of unethical behavior
- Parker reinstates local policing
- Two charged following vehicular incident in Parker
- Pleasanton approves zoning request
- La Cygne leaders talk future street improvements
SPORTS
Jayhawk track wins the Pleasanton Invitational

The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to Pleasanton on April 15 for the Pleasanton Invitational. The Hawks did very well as both the boys’ and girls’ teams won the meet. The girls won with a score of 188 points while the boys won with a score of 127 points. There were... [More]
Pleasanton track places in top three at home invitational

The Pleasanton track team hosted their home invitational on April 15. The Jays did well as both the boys’ and girls’ teams placed in the top three out of nine teams. The boys were second with 92 points while the girls were third with 107.5 points. “It was... [More]
More Sports
- Jayhawk baseball earns first victories of the season
- Pleasanton boys’ and girls’ track teams win Oswego Invitational
- Prairie View softball falls in league contest to Iola
- Prairie View softball drops close games against Santa Fe Trail
- Pleasanton baseball falls to Southeast Cherokee and Marmaton Valley
- Jayhawk softball splits against Central Heights
- Prairie View softball starts season 3-1
- Pleasanton baseball opens season 2-2 against Oswego and Crest
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

