Linn County News
Published Sept. 28, 2022
Norma Jane Johnson Surbaugh, age 80, of La Cygne, Kan., passed away on Monday, Sept., 26, 2022, in Louisburg, Kan. She was born the only child of Norman Everett and Alberta Frances Reed Johnson on Jan. 19, 1942, at the Trinity Lutheran Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.
Norma Jane was an active member of the La Cygne Christian Church and had served in various places, Sunday school teacher, assistant Sunday school secretary and as a deaconess to name a few. Norma worked at Wood’s Bakery in Paola for five years before her marriage. After she married she worked at Bass Busters for a short time. She sold Avon for five years. Norma helped in various community affairs, worked with Boy Scouts for several years when DeWayne was in scouts, served as chairman of various drives such as the Community Blood Drives, cancer and diabetes as well. Norma graduated from the La Cygne Rural High School with the class of 1961, the largest class to ever graduate from the old LRHS. She was in the last eighth grade class to graduate from New Home School in 1957 a one-room rural county school in which she received all of her elementary education before it closed its doors. These schools have disappeared and are just a memory.
Norma married Roland Earl Surbaugh, son of Leonard Charles and Annie May Averill Surbaugh, known as Rod, Oct. 23, 1966, at the La Cygne Christian Church. To this union three children were born, DeWayne Kevin, Rosetta Katherine and Andrew Franklin (Andy). The joy of her life was her grandchildren. Her oldest grandson, Michael Homlyn was born just one hour and 7 minutes short of being born on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary; Brian, her youngest was born weighing just 2 pounds 13 ounces.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Norman Everett Johnson on July 4, 1976, and Alberta Frances Reed Johnson on Sept. 28, 1995; and husband, Roland Earl Surbaugh, Feb. 3, 2015.
She is survived by two sons, DeWayne Kevin (Pat) Surbaugh, and Andrew Franklin Surbaugh; a daughter, Rosetta Katherine Hood; two grandsons, Michael Hamlyn and Brian Lee Hood; and a host of cousins and friends.
Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at the La Cygne Christian Church. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Burial will take place in the Oak Lawn Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

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]
Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025

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]
Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025

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]
More Obituaries
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
- Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025
- Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
- Rees Lyle Shattuck 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025
- Dixie Bradley Wilkerson 10-15-1939 to 05-30-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
NEWS
NOTICE:

Due to a scheduling conflict, the commissioners will not be meeting today, June 25th, for a second budget workshop. The meeting has been rescheduled for July 2nd.
Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners

Requests declaratory judgement that roads are private The Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association, Inc. (TLOA), filed a lawsuit in Linn County District Court on June 6, 2025, against the Linn County Board of County Commissioners requesting a declaratory judgement from... [More]
Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy

On June 20, following an extensive investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Attorney’s Office filed a case in district court charging Erik Hellner, a Sugar Valley Lakes resident, with six separate felonies. The case originally stems from... [More]
More News
- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
- Parker mayor seeks affidavits to file charges
- USD 346 board learns of overpayments
- NOTICE
- Commissioners discuss estimate on overlay project
- Pleasanton council meeting heated over fire personnel interviews
- La Cygne gas customers may see rate decrease
SPORTS
Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship

The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Wichita to compete in the Kansas Trapshooting State tournament. The tournament features more than 110 high schools and over 1,500 student athletes. Pleasanton/Jayhawk compete in the 2A competition which happened on June... [More]
Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad

Prairie View’s head boys’ wrestling Coach Joey Ewalt does more for the sport than just coaching the Buffalos, he has made an impact on the sport as a wrestler, coach and official. Ewalt began his wrestling career at the very young age of four. His father, Mike Ewalt,... [More]
More Sports
- 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
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record
- Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State
- School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka
- Prairie View track qualifies multiple athletes for State
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

