Linn County News
Published Dec. 9, 2020
Ralph Joseph “Jody” Hines passed away while in the arms of his loving wife on Dec. 3, 2020. A private visitation for the family will be held at the Bruce Funeral Home in Spring Hill at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 9. A public graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. at the Spring Hill Cemetery that afternoon. A Masonic Service will be conducted at the cemetery as well as the Rose Ceremony for the Royal Order of Jesters. Go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82558798156 to start or join a scheduled Zoom meeting showing the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Spring Hill Masonic Lodge #56 or the Oriental Band’s Ladder of Smiles. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com. Face coverings and social distancing should be practiced for Jody’s service. Arrangements: Bruce Funeral Home, 712 S. Webster, Spring Hill, Kansas 66083 (913) 592-2244.
“Jody” was born May 20, 1936, in Tucson, Ariz., the oldest son of Joe Hines and Helen Josephine Dangelmaier Hines. The family returned to Kansas from Sells, Ariz., when Jody was 3. Over the years, Jody was able to visit his birthplace a few times, most recently 10 years ago during a winter trip with his wife. Jody attended the one room Cherry Lane Grade School north of Olathe where his mother also attended school and he was a 1954 graduate of Olathe High School.
While attending high school Jody met his high school sweetheart, and eventual wife of 66 years, Barb. Everything that Jody and Barb did together was as a team and they worked side by side throughout life to build their legacy together. They were the proud parents of John (Sandy) and Jeff (Cammie), their two sons that they raised on the family farm north of Olathe.
Jody worked a handful of different jobs when he was first married, handling mail at Union Station, sorting cattle at the Kansas City Stockyards, working in a locker plant and eventually working at the Delco Plant in Olathe before leaving his last job in town to run the family farm. Jody was a dairyman for more than 25 years while row crop farming and running a cattle operation. In November 1995, Jody and Barb purchased their current farm near Parker, Kan., where they have lived since 2000. Jody built an eight acre “dream” lake on their new farm and thoroughly enjoyed allowing friends, neighbors and family to come down and fish or use the duck blind on the pond.
Jody had a lifelong passion for the great outdoors. He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying raising bird dogs, deer hunting, elk hunting, moose hunting, running a trap line, and more than anything fishing with his friends and family. Jody was an excellent fisherman. Jody and his family made 60 consecutive fishing trips to Corn Lake near Redditt, Ontario in Canada. During these annual trips Jody made many great friends, many whom he considered to be his family. These trips were planned and looked forward to the entire year as a reprieve from work on the farm.
In 1974 Jody became a member of the Spring Hill Masonic Lodge, where he was a past master, a membership that spanned more than 45 years. Jody was an excellent recruiter of good men and encouraged dozens of others to join over the years. He always looked forward to performing the First Degree as he welcomed a new brother into the fraternity. Jody was active in the Abdallah Shrine Temple where he was involved in the Oriental Band. Over the years he served as the Oriental Band President and was the Director of the Central States Shrine Association of Oriental Bands, an honor that he was very proud of. Jody and Barb met many lifelong friends through the Shrine and enjoyed several trips with friends over the years including cruises to Alaska as well as the Caribbean. Jody was a strong supporter of the Ladder of Smiles, sponsored by Abdallah Temple, a fund that raises monies to support the mission of the St. Louis Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children.
Jody had commented many times over the years that he was born at the perfect time. Growing up in a time where indoor plumbing and electricity were not available until he reached high school. He often talked about seeing the world move from horses and plows to all the conveniences of modern life. Many of his fondest childhood memories were from bouncing around in an old stock truck with his Dad and Grandpa as he rode around with them as they traded cattle throughout the countryside. The importance of family was a lesson that he learned early in life and one that followed him throughout.
Jody is survived by his wife Barb, of the home, sons John (Olathe) and Jeff (Parker); five grandchildren; Clint, Jeff, Jennifer, Keaton and Lindsey; and nine great-granddaughters. Jody was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Tom.
Thank you to all the doctors and nurses in ICU at Olathe Medical Center for excellent care of “Jody” Hines and his family.
OBITUARIES
Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025

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

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

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
- John Ted Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- Zachary Eldon White ~ 06-12-1992 to 04-29-2025
- Rebecca S. Landers 12-30-1964 to 04-18-2025
- Ira Johnathan “Sonny” Robinson ~ 04-10-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Paul Dean Benham ~ 09-23-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Bonnie Faye Bishop ~ 03-25-1949 to 04-22-2025
- Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025
- Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Commission to vote Monday on Parker Center lease

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

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

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
- USD 362 board rejects adding bus A/C
- SPECIAL: Blue Mound man seriously injured in accident
- Commissioners make official statement on Tanglewood roads
- La Cygne okays local police firing range
- Mound City council adopts rules for camping
- LCSO releases statement on incident
- Pleasanton requests 1-year automatic aid fire extension
- Commissioners hear update, discuss aid agreement for Pleasanton FD
SPORTS
Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State

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

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
- Lady Hawks win league as Hawks host TRL meet
- Pleasanton track sets school records at Pioneer League track meet
- Prairie View track sets meet and league records at Wellsville
- Pleasanton baseball splits against Jayhawk
- Prairie View softball defeats Osawatomie and Girard
- Jayhawk baseball earns win over Pleasanton
- Prairie View track has a great day as they host home invitational
- Jayhawk track places top three at Prairie View
OBITUARIES POLICY
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

