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
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
