Linn County News
Published January 18, 2023
Fern Elizabeth (Dunlop) Knight, age 80, passed away Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. Fern was born in Paola, Kan., on Aug. 15, 1942, to Walter William and Nellie May (Long) Dunlop.
She graduated from Parker High School in 1960. Fern married the love of her life H. Roger Knight Nov. 2, 1962. Together, Roger and Fern worked at Reed Minerals in La Cygne, Kan., where Fern retired as the plant office administrator after a long and successful career.
Fern loved taking care of the workers at Reed Minerals and often made them homemade ice-cream to enjoy. Her multi tasking skills in the office were legendary. Fern spent most of her life in Linn County. She loved gardening, crocheting, crafting, antique shopping, doing puzzles, creating the Church bulletin, anything that required or could be done on a spreadsheet, and baking. For over 50 years, Fern baked Christmas goodies with her family. This tradition is continued by her children and grandchildren. Her favorite treat to make anytime of the year and share with others was peanut clusters. Fern and Roger loved playing cards and other games with family and friends. Fern enjoyed genealogy and was very proud of her Irish heritage. She had a strong connection with her Irish cousins; traveling to Northern Ireland three times and hosting cousins when they were in the United States.
Together with Roger, Fern adored her children and grandchildren. For many summers, Fern coached Renee in softball. They loved watching their children and grandchildren participate in activities and she was usually the voice that could be heard over the crowd as she cheered them on. She also loved watching Hallmark movies, the Chiefs, and KU men’s basketball. Elvis and the old country legends were heard playing in her house and car. Fern was a lifetime member of the Parker Eastern Star Organization. She was a member of the Blue Mound Federated Church where she actively served in various capacities. Faith and serving Christ were important to Fern and Roger throughout their lives.
Fern was preceded in death by her husband Roger; her parents; and four siblings: Eugene, Dorothy, Charles, and baby Dale. Fern is survived by son Rodney Roger Knight and wife Staci; daughter Renee Lichelle Crenshaw and husband Scott; grandchildren: Stephanie and husband Luke, Taylor and husband Ignacio, Megan and husband Isaac, Matthew and wife Laura and Kaitlyn; five great-grandchildren: Jordyn, Zach, Carter, Isaiah and Stark; a brother Raymond and wife Jessie Dunlop; sister in law Carolyn Dunlop; brother in law Warren Knight; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Wednesday Jan.. 18, 2023, at Schneider Funeral Home, Mound City Chapel from 5-7 p.m. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday January 19, 2023, at Blue Mound Federated Church. Burial will follow in Centerville Cemetery, Centerville, Kan. A luncheon will be served at the Blue Mound Federated Church following internment.
The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mound Federated Church.
OBITUARIES
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]
Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Helen Maxine Wright, age 86, formerly of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away at her home in Abbyville, Kan., on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Community... [More]
Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Kelly Kehl, age 87, of Mound City, Kan., passed away Saturday, June 28, 2025, at his rural Mound City home. Kelly was born March 25, 1938, south of Parker, Kan., to Keith (Tom) Emerson Kehl and Helen Edith (Giffin) Kehl. Kelly... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
NEWS
Commissioners discuss various budgets

SEKMHC in mix At the end of a meeting attended by two of the three commissioners, a discussion was held regarding several of the proposed budgets for next year. Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson first discussed the proposed budget for Southeast Kansas Mental Health.... [More]
City learns of fire gear condition

Pleasanton Fire Department ISO inspection July 16 Following the appointment of new Fire Chief Jimmy Watts as Pleasanton Fire Chief, the Pleasanton Council heard of the condition of bunker gear Monday night at their bi-weekly meeting. Watts reported the truck ran with the... [More]
La Cygne leaders discuss food truck follow-up

Police chief to draft updated clarifying ordinance La Cygne leaders anticipate considering a draft ordinance soon on transient food trucks following discussion at last Wednesday’s regular council meeting precipitated by a local business owner’s complaint last month.... [More]
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SPORTS
Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament

The team called Nobodys wins the Blue Mound 4th of July co-ed softball tournament on July 5. This year the tournament consisted of eight teams. The Nobodys is Keith Morrell’s team and has been a part of the softball tournament since it started three years ago.
Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship

The Pleasanton 12-14 baseball team wins their league tournament on June 30 to July 1. Pleasanton hosted the tournament and won in the championship against La Cygne 11-7.
More Sports
- 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
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

