Linn County News
Published March 16, 2022
Francis Marion Noel, III “Frankie”, age 85, La Cygne, Kan., passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at the home of his daughter Pamela J. Alexander. He was born in Amsterdam, Mo., on Dec. 10, 1936, the son of Francis Marion Noel II and Mildred Laurine Trageser.
He graduated from La Cygne Rural High School in the class of 1954 and from K-State vo-tech top of his class with a sheep shearing degree. He worked in the following areas: shearing sheep, coal miner, sawmill owner, custom hay baler, union carpenter at Iatan powerplant, formed Noel Construction concrete business, dairy farmer, and Noel Rental Properties. He served as Linn County Commissioner in 1971-72. Some of his hobbies were: quilter, fisherman, coon hunter, canner, self-taught keyboard musician, and Winter Texan.
Frankie Noel was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in La Cygne, where he helped build Our Lady of Lourdes in La Cygne and Immaculate Conception in Louisburg.
He married Mary Ellen Stainbrook in Louisburg, Kan., on June 16, 1956, had three sons and three daughters. Mary Ellen and daughter Tammy died in car crash, May 16, 1989.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Pauline Noel, Mary Jane Able; and first wife Mary Ellen Stainbrook Noel and daughter Tammy Jean Noel.
He is survived by his sons, Francis Marion Noel IV (Rita), Vernon Noel, Fred Noel (Peggy); daughters Pauline Troth (Mike), Pamela Alexander (John Scott); two sisters, Patricia Noel and Lois Green; thirteen grandchildren, Sara Swepston (Forest), Jonathan Alexander (Carly), Amiee Evans (Darin), Matthew Troth (Marissa), Jill Driver (Lee), Darcy Ross (Jason), Joseph Noel (Ashleigh), Jeffery Alexander, Melissa Bugni (Chad), Rachel Nelson(Kyle), Mark Noel (Cindy), Eric Noel (Cynthia), Sean Noel (Ashley); twenty-five great-grandchildren.
He married Dottie Maloney Anderson, Dec. 29, 1989, and is survived by Dottie and stepdaughter Kitty Anderson and stepson Thomas Anderson.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 14, 2022, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, La Cygne, Kan. Burial in Oak Lawn Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation will follow from 3 to 5 p.m. at the La Cygne Chapel. If you have a quilt that Frankie made, please feel free to bring it to the visitation for display. Contributions are suggested to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church or the Altar Society. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith passed away Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community in Manhattan. She was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Gladys (Goldsmith)... [More]
Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Ron Arbogast, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born Aug. 31, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan.,... [More]
Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025

Linn County News Published June 25, 2025 Richard "Dick" Smith, age 83, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in Olathe, Kan., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions... [More]
More Obituaries
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
- Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025
- Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
- Rees Lyle Shattuck 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025
- Dixie Bradley Wilkerson 10-15-1939 to 05-30-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
NEWS
NOTICE:

Due to a scheduling conflict, the commissioners will not be meeting today, June 25th, for a second budget workshop. The meeting has been rescheduled for July 2nd.
Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners

Requests declaratory judgement that roads are private The Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association, Inc. (TLOA), filed a lawsuit in Linn County District Court on June 6, 2025, against the Linn County Board of County Commissioners requesting a declaratory judgement from... [More]
Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy

On June 20, following an extensive investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Attorney’s Office filed a case in district court charging Erik Hellner, a Sugar Valley Lakes resident, with six separate felonies. The case originally stems from... [More]
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- Parker mayor seeks affidavits to file charges
- USD 346 board learns of overpayments
- NOTICE
- Commissioners discuss estimate on overlay project
- Pleasanton council meeting heated over fire personnel interviews
- La Cygne gas customers may see rate decrease
SPORTS
Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship

The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Wichita to compete in the Kansas Trapshooting State tournament. The tournament features more than 110 high schools and over 1,500 student athletes. Pleasanton/Jayhawk compete in the 2A competition which happened on June... [More]
Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad

Prairie View’s head boys’ wrestling Coach Joey Ewalt does more for the sport than just coaching the Buffalos, he has made an impact on the sport as a wrestler, coach and official. Ewalt began his wrestling career at the very young age of four. His father, Mike Ewalt,... [More]
More Sports
- 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
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record
- Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State
- School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka
- Prairie View track qualifies multiple athletes for 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.
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• 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

