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Linn County News

Published Aug. 10, 2022

Merle A. Beckman, age 86, Mound  City, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. He was born in rural La Cygne, Kan., on Oct. 5, 1935, the son of Charles and Neeva (Neal) Beckman. He graduated from La Cygne Rural High School in the Class of 1954.

He began a career in the auto industry in 1957, in a sales position with Kipper Chevrolet in Pleasanton, Kan. In 1977, he began working at Pointer Motors in Garnett, Kan. He bought the dealership in 1983 and acquired Anderson Ford in 1988; the two becoming Beckman Motors. He was involved in the business until 2017.

Merle was united in marriage to Gloria Daly on March 2, 1961. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Mound City, the Scottish Rite and Mirza Temple in Pittsburg, Kan. Merle loved his family, even though he might not have verbalized it. He had a passion for pulling horses. He and longtime friend, Kendall Hutton, began pulling ponies in 1962. Before the duo’s career was finished, they pulled ponies and draft horses in eight different states and amassed thousands of miles together. Merle won the Kansas State Fair pulling match in Hutchinson for seven straight years, six of them with the famous team of Bonnie and Clyde. Total, he won eighty-three matches with that team.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Bernard, Elmer, Lisle, and Seth Beckman; two sisters, Gladys Lane and Fern Bazules; and one grandson, Brant Beckman.

Merle is survived by his wife, Gloria; four sons, Raymond Beckman (Lori), Richard Beckman (Lauri), Rande Beckman (Sharon), and Cleve Beckman (Brenda); a daughter, Chilesa Bruner (Van); a sister, Edna Debrick; a great-nephew, Ronnie Beckman; sister in law and running partner, Joyce and Kendall Hutton; sixteen grandchildren; twenty four great-grandchildren and one on the way.

A gathering to celebrate Merle’s life will be held 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel. Contributions are suggested to Children’s Mercy Hospital. Online condolences can be left at www.s

OBITUARIES

Lila R. McCarty ~ 05-21-1938 to 03-08-2025

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Linn County News Published March 12, 2025   Lila R. McCarty, age 86, of Parker, Kan., passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025 in Richmond, Kan. A private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com. ... [More]

Norma Jean Harvey ~ 09-26-1935 to 02-21-2025

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Linn County News Published March 5, 2025   Norma Jean Harvey, age 89, of Mound City, Kan., passed away Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. She was born on Sept. 26, 1935, in Kansas City, Kan., the daughter of William and Alta Pemberton Keener. She graduated from Turner High School.... [More]

Elizabeth Joyce Keaton ~ 02-14-1936 to 03-01-2025

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Linn County News Published March 5, 2025   Elizabeth Joyce Keaton, age 89, Parker, Kan., passed away Saturday, March 1, 2025. Joyce was born on Feb. 14, 1936, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Owen and Mildred Smith Gilchrist. She was united in marriage to Richard... [More]

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PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

Commissioners discuss new option for Devlin Road

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Board votes to extend Meik contract

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SPORTS

Pleasanton boys’ basketball earns Sub-State runner-up

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The Prairie View girls’ basketball team traveled to Neodesha on March 4 to compete in the 3A girls’ basketball Columbus Sub-State Bracket #2 semifinal. The girls reached this game by defeating Iola in the first round on Feb. 27 at Prairie View, 39-35. In this... [More]

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• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
• Must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning in order to appear in that week's edition.
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• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

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