Louis Howard Feldman, age 91, died Feb. 15, 2016, at Louisburg Care Center, Louisburg, Kan.
Louis was born April 11, 1924, the son of August and Nellie May Bible Feldman on their Osage Township farm, south of Fontana, Kan., in Miami County. He attended several one-room country schools and graduated from La Cygne High School in 1942. Louis spent his early years farming with his father, working at the Whiteford Ranch (where he learned to drive) and helped with the operation of Murray’s Lake (now known as Miami County State Lake).
Louis served his country in World War II as a combat engineer, seeing action in the European Theater. Attached to the 1266th Combat Engineer Battalion, he was both a heavy truck driver and rifle marksman. During the waning months of the war, Louis supported General Patton’s Third Army in their advance across France into Germany as his battalion was one of the first engineer units to build a bridge across the Rhine River. One of Louis’s final military acts was to help construct prisoner-of-war stockades to hold captured Nazi soldiers. Corporal Feldman was decorated with the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle East Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Honorable Discharge pin. Louis was a member of the American Legion and remained a dedicated patriot the remainder of his life. He expressed special empathy for our Vietnam veterans.
Louis married Betty Lynette Hurd of Muskogee, Okla., on June 15, 1947. Louis and Betty were the parents of five daughters. They established a farming and cattle operation in the New Lancaster, Kan., community in 1959. They farmed together for over 50 years. They were members of the Fontana Church of Christ for many years. No couple expressed more love for and devotion to one another than Louis and Betty. Their unconditional love for their large family was evident throughout their lives. They were the proud grandparents of 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren with three more great-grandchildren due this year. Louis enjoyed teaching his grandchildren about farming, learning to drive tractors and farm trucks, telling Hiawatha stories, camping together on vacations and stressing the importance of a good education.
Louis was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, of 62 years; his parents; two brothers Charles and Franklin; and three sisters Marie, Dorothy and Hattie.
He is survived by one sister Hazel Lowe of Bonner Springs, Kan.; and one brother-in-law William Herbert Hurd Jr. of Claremore, Okla. Louis will also be greatly missed by his five daughters: Carolyn and husband Larry Harding of Louisburg, Kan.; Nancy and husband John Heidrick of La Cygne, Kan.; Doris and husband Henry Williamson of Meadville, Mo.; Patty and husband Michael Yocam of Paola, Kan.; and Debra Smotherman of Overland Park, Kan.; and their families.
Visitation is 6–8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, at Penwell-Gable Funeral Home, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, Kan. Service is 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, at New Lancaster United Methodist Church, 36665 New Lancaster Rd., Paola, Kan. Burial is in New Lancaster Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial contributions to New Lancaster Methodist Church, Fontana Church of Christ, La Cygne Historical Society and Crossroads Hospice of Lenexa, Kan.
To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelPaola.com, 913-294-2372.
OBITUARIES
Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Burton Clyde Brownback, age 72, Tri-Ko resident in Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born on May 21, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Clyde and Shirley Drake Brownback. He graduated from Prairie View... [More]
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]
More Obituaries
- Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025
- 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
NEWS
SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees

A poll sent to Linn County employees mid-week asking which benefit they would prefer to lose has created a spark of animosity among those who received it. One person anonymously shared it to a Mound City-oriented Facebook page as a screen shot along with their comments highlighting... [More]
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]
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- La Cygne leaders discuss food truck follow-up
- special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case
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- NOTICE:
- Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant
- Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
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

