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
Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Burton Clyde Brownback, age 72, Tri-Ko resident in Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born on May 21, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Clyde and Shirley Drake Brownback. He graduated from Prairie View... [More]
Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Ruth Ann Antrim, formerly Hueston, passed away July 7, 2025, after bravely battling cancer for many years. Ruth Ann was 74 years old. She lived and worked in the Mound City and Fort Scott, Kan., areas her... [More]
Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Helen Maxine Wright, age 86, formerly of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away at her home in Abbyville, Kan., on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Community... [More]
More Obituaries
- Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025
- Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025
- Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025
- Jackie Junior “Jack” Hewitt ~ 07-17-1935 to 06-18-2025
- Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025
- Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025
- Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees

A poll sent to Linn County employees mid-week asking which benefit they would prefer to lose has created a spark of animosity among those who received it. One person anonymously shared it to a Mound City-oriented Facebook page as a screen shot along with their comments highlighting... [More]
Commissioners discuss various budgets

SEKMHC in mix At the end of a meeting attended by two of the three commissioners, a discussion was held regarding several of the proposed budgets for next year. Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson first discussed the proposed budget for Southeast Kansas Mental Health.... [More]
City learns of fire gear condition

Pleasanton Fire Department ISO inspection July 16 Following the appointment of new Fire Chief Jimmy Watts as Pleasanton Fire Chief, the Pleasanton Council heard of the condition of bunker gear Monday night at their bi-weekly meeting. Watts reported the truck ran with the... [More]
More News
- La Cygne leaders discuss food truck follow-up
- special: SCOTUS agrees to hear Women's Sports Case
- SPECIA;: Schmidt Votes to Cancel Massive Tax Hike, Secure Border, and Lower Federal Spending
- NOTICE:
- Pleasanton awarded $617,000 KDOT street grant
- Commissioners discuss development zoning appeals
- Questions on employee emails leads to lengthy discussion
- NOTICE:
SPORTS
Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament

The team called Nobodys wins the Blue Mound 4th of July co-ed softball tournament on July 5. This year the tournament consisted of eight teams. The Nobodys is Keith Morrell’s team and has been a part of the softball tournament since it started three years ago.
Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship

The Pleasanton 12-14 baseball team wins their league tournament on June 30 to July 1. Pleasanton hosted the tournament and won in the championship against La Cygne 11-7.
More Sports
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
- 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
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

