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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

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Linn County News Published July 2, 2025   Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith passed away Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community in Manhattan.  She was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Gladys (Goldsmith)... [More]

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Linn County News Published July 2, 2025   Ron Arbogast, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born Aug. 31, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan.,... [More]

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Linn County News Published June 25, 2025   Richard "Dick" Smith, age 83, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in Olathe, Kan., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions... [More]

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OBITUARIES POLICY

• 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.
• Obituaries submitted by funeral homes will be billed to the funeral home.
• Full obituaries submitted by individuals are required to be paid in advance.
• 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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