Linn County News
Published Nov. 29, 2017
Fred “Jinkie” Lee, age 88, of La Cygne, Kan., passed away on Nov. 20, 2017. Fred was born Oct. 18, 1929, in Cedar County, Mo., the only child of the late Ted Francis Lee and Ethel (Correll) Lee.
He spent his childhood on the family farm near Filley, Mo., attending Potter School. He attended high school in El Dorado Springs, Mo., where he met his sweetheart and love of his life, Billee Rae West, both graduating with the Class of 1947. Fred and Billee married Oct. 17, 1948, and spent 65 years together until her death in 2014.
Shortly after their marriage, Fred and Billee moved to Petaluma, Calif., where Fred worked on a dairy farm. They lived there for seven years before returning to El Dorado Springs and Cedar County, Mo., where their families resided.
Fred had a long career in the grocery store business, with Billee right by his side. He first worked as a butcher at Thatch Grocery Store in El Dorado Springs, then began ownership of grocery stores, including Lee & Thatch in Appleton City, Mo., was co-owner of Food Fair in Mound City, Kan., and later purchased Fred’s Food Fair in La Cygne.
Fred was active in church and community affairs all of his adult life. He professed his faith in Jesus Christ as a young child and was a devout Christian. He was a member of the Christian Church in La Cygne, where he previously served as an elder. While in El Dorado Springs, he served as the fire chief and was mayor of La Cygne in the early ‘80s.
Fred was a multi-talented individual. He played the guitar and sang beautifully. He was quite the story teller, a horseman, and he especially liked his mules. He was an avid hunter and dog lover. One of his new-found hobbies after retirement was golfing in the Senior League at Linn Valley Lakes.
Fred was a consummate social person, never meeting a stranger. He loved to travel with his sweetheart in the RV to many places, especially the western U.S. One of their favorite places was Ouray, Colo., and they enjoyed attending rodeos in Cody, Wyo.
Fred had a joyous and full life and always made others feel happier when he was around. He was deeply devoted to family, loving each one in his own special “Fred” way. He leaves behind three daughters: Karen Lee Ringgenberg (Bob), Nixa, Mo., Denise Lee Debrick (Kevin), Paola, Kan., and Gayle Lee, La Cygne; grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: Gabriel, Melody, Taren and Joey Page, Clever, Mo., Daniel and Emily Ringgenberg, Aberdeen, S.D., Matt, Molly, Vera and Beau Sayer, Plymouth, Minn., Chris and Ashley Graves, Henderson, Nev., Blake and Erika Kelly, Washington, D.C., Jobie and Wynnette Debrick, Ottawa, Kan., Jake, Megan and Jackson Storey, Louisburg, Kan., and Nathan and Jill Boone, Columbia, Mo. Also surviving are his beloved brother-in-law Kenneth West, Rolla, Mo.; three nephews: Mike West (Heather), Fort Collins, Colo., Ken West (Theresa), Jackson, Mo., and Cam West (Kim Jo), Marion, Ky.; as well as several great nieces and nephews.
Fred was an exceptional person, and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends. God most assuredly blessed Fred’s life.
Funeral services for Fred Lee were held on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, at La Cygne Christian Church in La Cygne. Burial followed in Oak Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to La Cygne Christian Church or Meals on Wheels. Online condolences may be left at: www.blandhackleman.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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- NOTICE
- Commissioners discuss estimate on overlay project
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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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

