thumb

Former Pleasanton resident Millicent Gladys (Rea) La Berge, 91, died Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at the home of her daughter, Laura Rea, in Highlands Ranch, Colo., with Laura,  daughter Lorita Groover and her grandson, Spencer Wilson, by her side.

She was born Dec. 30, 1924, in Mattydale, N.Y., in the home of her parents Louis J. La Berge and Gladys S. Skipper. Her mother was a native of Castle Acre, England, and her father was a Frenchman from Quebec, Canada. Millicent was proud of her immigrant parents and their accomplishments.

She was a United States Marine, a mother of 11 children, including Millicent Lindauer, Henry Rea, Jonathan Rea, Melissa Rea, Marc Rea, Lyman Rea, William Rea, Kelcey (Rea) Kenney, Lorita (Rea) Groover (Dewey Groover), Laura Rea (Robert Wilson) and Nathaniel Rea. She had three sets of twins: Henry and Jonathan, Melissa and Marc, and Kelcey and William. As a mother, she had six children under the age of 5 years.

She was married for 22 years to Reo V. Rea who often times worked in the eastern United States pursuing a career in the Department of Defense. She raised her children in the Pleasanton area singlehandedly during these times and later after their divorce in 1975. In 2004 she moved to Nemo, Mo.

As a toddler, she showed compassion to neglected animals, and this continued her entire life. She rescued and also fed abandoned animals. She generously gave of herself and shared her personal resources with those in need. 

Millicent lived a courageous life of independence. After graduating from Central High School, Mattydale, she worked for General Electric Co., Syracuse, N.Y., and saved money to attend Crouse Irving Hospital School of Nursing, Syracuse.

 After her nursing education, Millicent was moved by patriotism and her friends dying in World War II and enlisted in the United States Marines, doing basic training at Camp Lejeune, N.C. After the war, she received training as an airline reservationist in California.

In order to spend the most time with her family, Millicent often worked the night shift. She worked as a nurse in hospitals, nursing homes and in the home health care settings. Her cherished patients called her “Sunshine.”

As a devoted mother, Millicent also worked in other fields such as the Motorola Co.; as a blue printer for the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.; in childcare; and in the retail and restaurant industry. She also was caregiver for her mother during her lengthy illness.

She was an inspiration to her children and several have chosen careers in public service. 

While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in her late fifties and early sixties, she and several of her children were studying at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kan., at the same time. In 1985 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Criminal Justice from Wichita State University.

Upon graduation, she experienced age discrimination as she pursued work in the Kansas State Criminal Justice System. Though she scored high on the entrance exams, she was denied interviews and was never hired, which was in violation of Kansas state law. This was deeply disappointing to her as she was interested in rehabilitation of prisoners. 

Even in the later years of her life, Millicent was a humanitarian. In 1994, at the age of 71, she traveled to the country of India as a volunteer worker with Habitat for Humanity. She mixed by hand the mortar for the bricks used in the construction of homes.

Millicent never got over the loss of her children, Kelcey, Nathaniel and Jonathan. Her daughter, Kelcey (Rea) Kenney, was hit and killed, along with her grandson, Justin Kenney, by a drunk driver in El Paso, Texas, in June of 1987.

Her son, Nathaniel Rea, was killed in a blizzard near Eureka, Kan., in January of 1997. He had been visiting his mother for Christmas and was returning home.

Jonathan died of lung cancer in January of 2006 in Palisade, Colo.

Her eight surviving children, numerous grand and great-grandchildren live across the United States. Her only surviving sibling, sister Mina Case, lives in Mattydale. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Suzanne Symer, Regina La Berge and Marie La Berge.

As a champion for animal rights, Millicent chose to encourage contributions to organizations promoting their welfare.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, in the Pleasanton Cemetery, Pleasanton. Military honors will be provided. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott, Kan. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

OBITUARIES

Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published June 4, 2025   Gary Ray Johnson, age 90 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on May 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation... [More]

Rees Lyle Shattuck ~ 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published May 28, 2025   Rees Lyle Shattuck, age 93, Prescott, Kan., passed away Monday, May 26, 2025. He was born on Aug. 31, 1931, in Boicourt, Kan., the son of Rees Wilbur and Lulu Elizabeth Black Shattuck. He served his country in the United... [More]

Wayne Eldon Long ~ 07-03-1942 to 05-24-2025

thumb

Linn County News Published May 28, 2025   Wayne Eldon Long, age 82, of Parker, Kan., passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Wayne was born on July 3, 1942, in Garnett, Kan., the son of Homer Leon and Margaret Ethel (Collins) Long. He was one of three children and... [More]

More Obituaries

View All Obituaries
PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

SPECIAL: Commission to vote Monday on Parker Center lease

thumb

Linn County commissioners plan to vote at their weekly 9 a.m. meeting next Monday, June 2, on a 99-year lease agreement with Parker and their Senior Center building. At Tuesday's weekly Commission meeting, delayed by a day because of Monday's federal Memorial Day observance,... [More]

Despite Chamber loss, Blast in the Park fireworks will go off

thumb

Council actions include split vote on deed conveyance   Hearing of the disbandment of its local Chamber of Commerce, La Cygne leaders have verbally concurred that the city’s part in the annual Blast in the Park festivities will go on. Following that Chamber notification... [More]

Linn Valley discusses city hall funding sources

thumb

The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, with Mayor Lew Donelson presiding and all council members present.    Donelson informed the council of two potential opportunities for funding a new City Hall building. ... [More]

More News

SPORTS

Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State

thumb

The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to West Franklin on May 22 to compete in the 3A Regional. As a team the girls placed 10th with a score of 22.5 points while the boys were fifth with 56 points. This year the top three places in each event qualify for the State meet then... [More]

School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka

thumb

The Pleasanton track team traveled to Eureka on May 22 for a 2A Regional track meet. This year the top three places advance to the State meet along the top four times/distances not from the top three from all other Regionals. This year the Jays qualified eight athletes in seven... [More]

More Sports

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

View Legals for Free Business Directory