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
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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

