Linn County News
Published Sept. 1, 2021
Mary Kretchmar went home to Heaven on Aug. 26, 2021.
Mary, or Mary Jane if you’re from Linn County or knew her from her younger days, was born in a little farmhouse in Mound City, Kan., on Aug. 11, 1946. She was raised there alongside her big brother, David (Peggy) Wakefield, by her parents, (Mildred) Maxine and Lloyd Wakefield.
After high school, Mary went to college at Pittsburg State University. It was there where she met and fell in love with her husband, Butch (Richard) Kretchmar, in the now infamous grape slush incident. They tied the knot on Sept. 19, 1965, and were married for 55 years before Butch passed away just last year.
Together, they raised their three children, Jeff (Valerie) Kretchmar, Susie (David) Killgore, and Katie (Joe) McDonald. Any summer night you would find her at a ballpark watching the kids play. The girls were both in dance, so she tirelessly sewed costumes and chauffeured them to practices, competitions and workshops all over the place. She was a Girl Scout leader, room mother, PTA president and anything else she could do to be involved. Through it all, she not only bonded with her own kids but was like a second mom to countless others.
When the kids were grown, Mary and Butch found other interests like traveling, square dancing, attending Nascar races and eventually following their grandkids in their activities. They went to hockey, baseball, basketball and soccer games. They went to car races, music shows and cheerleading competitions. And they loved every minute of it. Except when it was cold. They didn’t love that!
Mary also belonged to a sorority and dearly loved her Xi Chi sisters. Whether just the girls for a shopping trip to Kansas City or bringing the husbands along to one of their elaborate theme parties, a good time was always in order with this group!
Mary’s grandchildren, Kendall (Katie) Pulliam, Kaylee Killgore, Kyle (Sara) Killgore, Keylan (Colleen) Killgore, Cody (Taylor Webber) Kretchmar, Jackson McDonald and Christian McDonald, loved her fiercely and will miss her terribly. She also leaves behind three adorable great-granddaughters, Kendall’s Lila Setzkorn and Savvy Pulliam, and Kaylee’s Lilee Killgore.
While they are so very sad to say goodbye, they rejoice in knowing that she is reunited with her love. The final words to the final chapter of one of the greatest love stories ever have now been written. But that story will be cherished forever.
The funeral service was scheduled at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, 10515 W. Maple, Wichita, Kan. 67209. Graveside service was to be immediately following at Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorials have been established with: League 42 Foundation, P.O. Box 20051, Wichita, KS 67208; and Kansas RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), P.O. Box 12443, Kansas City, KS 66112.
Share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com.
OBITUARIES
Norma Jeanne (Riley) Long ~ 08-21-1938 to 10-13-2025

Linn County News Published October 22, 2025 Norma Jeanne (Riley) Long, age 87, of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, at Vintage Park in Osawatomie, Kan., surrounded by family. Norma was born on Aug. 21, 1938, in Liberal, Kan., to Frederick and... [More]
Geneva Darlene Jennings ~ 11-15-1939 to 10-12-2025

Linn County News Published October 15, 2025 Geneva Darlene Jennings, age 85, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. She was born on Nov. 15, 1939, at Trading Post, Kan., the daughter of Charles and Daisy Rittinghouse Purdy. She graduated from Pleasanton High... [More]
Mary Margaret Wilson ~ 01-08-1930 to 10-13-2025

Linn County News Published October 15, 2025 Mary Margaret Wilson of Mound City, Kan., age 95, was called home to be with the Lord Oct. 13, 2025. She resided at the Anew Healthcare facility in Pleasanton, Kan. She was born in La Cygne, Kan., to Edwin Josheph Riley and Eva... [More]
More Obituaries
- Letha Spillman ~ 06-19-1929 to 10-02-2025
- Mary Alice Fagg ~ 07-30-1933 to 09-25-2025
- John T. Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- Paul David Hamilton ~ 11-07-1950 to 09-23-2025
- Lora Lynn West ~ 10-22-1959 to 09-24-2025
- Lois Ann Simons ~ 11-12-1937 to 09-27-2025
- Betty Joan Haupt ~ 10-03-1931 to 09-29-2025
- Carolyn Lee Wilson Dunlop ~ 12-15-1944 to 09-27-2025
NEWS
Souza resigns county clerk post

Linn County’s county clerk is resigning. At the weekly Linn County Commission meeting Tuesday morning, delayed a day because of Monday’s governmental Columbus Day holiday, Danielle Souza spoke during the public comment agenda section of her intention to resign the... [More]
Farmers State Bank under new ownership

Time moves on and things change – and the banking world is not exempt from those changes. When Farmers State Bank owner Dale Sprague passed away in August of 2024, his wife Janice and family made those changes when they sold the three banks this fall to Citizen Bank owner’s... [More]
Linn Valley council updated on water, lagoon projects

Linn Valley city council held its first meeting of the month on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Lewis Donelson began the meeting by asking city employees present at the meeting to stand up front and introduce themselves and state their job title. The mayor continued by... [More]
More News
- Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case
- Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair
- La Cygne awards lift station bid
- Appraiser’s office announces completion of review
- SPECIAL: KBI conducts statewide marijuana enforcement operation
- Pleasanton council vetoed on fire volunteer appointments
- Kansas Policy Institute talks property taxes with legislature
- Pleasanton city candidate forum Oct. 6
SPORTS
Schneider makes State for Hawks in girls’ golf

Celeste Schneider made the 3-1A State golf tournament again this year for the Lady Hawks and will be looking to earn another State medal. To see the full article, check out this week's edition of the Linn County News or check out the online version here.
Wade and Britz advance to State for the Buffalos

The Prairie View girls’ golf team is doing well. The girls won the Pioneer League championship at Deer Trace on Oct. 7 and then followed that up by placing fourth at 3-1A Sub-State tournament at Crestwood in Pittsburg on Oct. 13. The Lady Buffs won the league tournament... [More]
Blu-Jays convert takeaways into Homecoming win

Pleasanton converted two second-quarter fumble recoveries and a third-quarter interception into passing touchdowns to break a three-game losing skid and claim a 41-6 Homecoming win over Southeast-Cherokee Friday at Blu-Jay Nation Stadium. The victory moves the ‘Jays’... [More]
More Sports
- Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown
- Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week
- Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming
- Prairie View football dominates Burlington on Homecoming
- Pleasanton volleyball travels to Arma and Prairie View
- Jayhawk volleyball goes 4-0 on the week
- Pleasanton volleyball competes at Yates Center and Humboldt
- Prairie View football picks up a big win against Wellsville
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com
