Linn County News
Published Nov. 24, 2021
Kristina Diane Roth, age 43, of Hesston, Kan., entered her heavenly home on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021.
Kris was born March 11, 1978, the daughter of Robert (Bob) and Diane Burnett in Garnett, Kan., and lived with her family in Princeton, Kan.
Kris attended Prairie View High School, graduating with honors in 1996. She was a member of the Richmond and La Cygne United Methodist churches while growing up.
As a Kansas State University student, Kris was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and active in the KSU Methodist Campus Ministry Program. On Sept. 28, 1996, she met the love of her life, Derek Roth, on a blind date. On Dec. 18, 1999, Kris and Derek were married at the Paola United Methodist Church. Kris graduated in May 2000 with a B.S. in family and consumer science education.
Derek and Kris made their home in Hesston. Kris used her degree teaching FACS at Hillsboro High School. Kris loved teaching, but once God blessed her with her first son, teaching took a back seat to the job she loved most, being a mother. Benjamin James was born Aug. 12, 2001. Shortly after, Lucas Aaron joined the family on Nov. 5, 2003. A third son, Elijah Nicolas, was born Jan. 23, 2008. The family was complete with the birth of Josiah Christopher on June 10, 2010.
In addition to raising their four boys, Kris was a frequent substitute teacher in the Hesston school district. She enjoyed investing in the youth of her community, as a youth group leader and middle school PTO president. She was an active member of the Women’s Civic Club and served on the board of the Hesston Community Foundation and the fellowship committee at Hesston MB. Passionate about serving others, Kris was frequently the first to volunteer for any opportunity to serve her community.
Along with her loving husband Derek of almost 22 years, Kris is survived by her four sons, all of Hesston; her parents, Robert (Bob) and Diane Burnett, La Cygne, Kan.; her brother, Jason (Nichole) Burnett, Olathe, Kan.; and sister Abby (Rob) Hedrick, Overland Park, Kan. She is also survived by her paternal grandmother, Martha Chambers, Osage City, Kan.; and 14 nieces and nephews.
Kris was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Robert (Bob) and Dorothy Cooper, Richmond, Kan.; and her paternal grandfather, Otis Burnett, Tracy, Mo.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at Hesston Mennonite Brethren Church. Burial will follow at Hesston Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, at the church, with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kris Roth Memorial Fund with the Hesston Community Foundation, P.O. Box 399, Hesston, Kan. 67062 or online at bit.ly/krisroth-memorialfund.
OBITUARIES
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]
Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Kandi Kay Cruse passed away on June 27, 2025, at the age of 67 after a valiant battle with cancer. Born on March 29, 1958, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Kandi’s zest for life and carefree spirit were evident from an early age. She... [More]
Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Jessica Cae Pritchett age 43 of Parker, Kan., died Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Eddy Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie, Kan. ... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025
- Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
NEWS
special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case

Case paves the way for states to continue to protect women and girl's athletic opportunities Topeka, Kan. July 3, 2025 - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in Hecox v. Little and West Va., v. BPJ. Rep.... [More]
SPECIA;: Schmidt Votes to Cancel Massive Tax Hike, Secure Border, and Lower Federal Spending

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) issued the following statement regarding passage of the budget reconciliation bill by the U.S. House of Representatives, also called the “One Big Beautiful Bill”: “Last November,... [More]
NOTICE:

The Linn County News and Linn County Printing offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in honor of the holiday.
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SPORTS
Gratton at Nationals

Pleasanton’s Ashton Gratton qualifies for the Adidas Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina after winning the 100 and 200 meter dashes in the KSHSAA 2A State tournament in Wichita on May 31. The Adidas Nationals took place from June 20-22 and Gratton did well in both the... [More]
Summer Ball Tournaments

The Parker 8-11 baseball team 1 places first in their league tournament at La Cygne on June 28. See more photos on page B1 of this week's edition.
More Sports
- 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
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

