Linn County News
Published July 15, 2020
Richard “Dick” Read was born on March 28, 1929, in Hatcher Hospital in Wellington, Kan., and died on July 3, 2020, at Foxwood Springs, Belton, Mo. His parents were Richard Calvin Read and Beulah Mae (Wilson) Read. He graduated from Wellington Jr.-Sr. High School in May of 1947. On June 4, 1947, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. Later that year he became a member of the U.S. Air Force and served until his retirement at the rank of chief master sergeant on Sept. 1, 1969. During that time, he saw service in Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines and Japan and throughout the U.S. He was awarded the AF Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, AF Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters and 12 other medals and ribbons.
After retirement he spent several years pursuing a variety of interests: vice president and factory manager of Hi Line Plastics in Olathe, real estate sales in Kansas and Missouri, vice president and loan officer at First State Bank, Insurance Office Manager at First State Bank, locksmith in Pleasanton, and Linn County Clerk for four years. He spent 22 years as a volunteer reserve deputy sheriff in Linn County doing prisoner transport, fairground security, county patrol and various other duties. He also served for 21 years as municipal court judge for Pleasanton, Linn Valley, Prescott and Mound City.
Richard was a member of the VFW and served at the post, district, state, and national level. He was a member of Order of DeMolay, Past Patron of Eastern Star, Blue Lodge Masons (50 plus years) and Scottish Rite Masons (50 plus years), and was an advisor to the Rainbow Girls in Machias, Maine, for a time. For many years he was active in the Lions Club and National Rifle Association. He was a charter member of the Air Force Sergeants Association and a member of the pistol team in North Bend, Ore., and Clark Air Base, Philippines. He loved camping, working in his shop and telling stories about all his life’s adventures.
He married Mary LaWanda Johnson on Sept. 16, 1953, and is survived by her (Foxwood Springs, Belton) along with daughter Mary Rhodes of Grandview, Mo.; and son-in-law Jim Rhodes and grandson Joshua Rhodes and family of Lee’s Summit, Mo. He was preceded in death by granddaughter Jenna Rhodes of Little Rock, Ark.
Family requests that in lieu of flowers or cards that donations be made to the Jenna Rhodes Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Grandview Education Foundation. Donations can be mailed to Grandview Education Foundation, Box 546, Grandview, Mo. 64030.
OBITUARIES
Kenneth Delmer McGee ~ 07-02-1928 to 01-30-2025
Linn County News Published February 5, 2025 Kenneth Delmer McGee, age 96, of Centerville, Kan., passed away on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Garnett, Kan. He was born the son of Delmer Clinton and Nellie (Hibbs) McGee on July 2, 1928, in Centerville, Kan. He graduated... [More]
Gloria Jean Long ~ 08-13-1947 to 01-10-2025
Linn County News Published February 5, 2025 Gloria Jean Long, age 77, La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. She was born on Aug. 13, 1947, in Omaha, Neb., the daughter of Melvin and Maxine Hanthorne Camden. She graduated from Drexel High School. Gloria... [More]
Keagan Grubbs ~ 11-04-2016 to 01-28-2025
Linn County News Published February 5, 2025 Keagan Grubbs, age 8, Mound City, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 28, as a result of an accident. He was born on Nov. 4, 2016, in Kansas City, Kan., the son of Jason Grubbs and Angel Balz. He was currently a student at... [More]
More Obituaries
- Bowonn Edward Owen ~ 10-26-2015 to 01-28-2025
- Judith Lea (Casteel) Tervin ~ 07-10-1941 to 01-08-2025
- Jackie Dale “Jack” Kimlin ~ 08-10-1958 to 01-26-2025
- James Benjamin “Jim” Hargrove ~ 06-17-1955 to 01-22-2025
- Larry Marvin Murray ~ 01-11-1952 to 01-25-2025
- James Allen Perkins ~ 04-11-1958 to 01-23-2025
- John Loyd Dickerson ~ 01-08-1960 to 01-21-2025
- Bonnie Orene Miller ~ 06-29-1940 to 01-15-2025
NEWS
Kansas to follow Trump’s No Tax on Tips initiative
TOPEKA – This morning, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson and Senator Caryn Tyson, who is Chair of the Senate Tax Committee, at a press conference announcing that Kansas will follow President Trump’s No Tax on Tips initiative.... [More]
Souza appointed new Linn County clerk
The Linn County Republican Central Committee held a nominating convention Sunday, Feb. 2 to replace Linn County Clerk David Lamb who resigned effective January 31. The convention was chaired by Becky Johnson with 19 precinct committee men and women present. Johnson read the... [More]
Commissioners hear from citizen on plat approval near Parker
During the weekly meeting on Monday, Feb. 3, Linn County resident Jan Longenecker spoke to commissioners regarding a plat change and construction on a property near his property that he had previously protested during its initial process for a subdivision plat. Longenecker... [More]
More News
- Pleasanton Council allays fears of losing compactor
- Donations sought for families following accident
- Juveniles fall through ice, drown at Lake Chaparral
- Trash compactor negotiation continues with Pleasanton and county
- USD 362 gives ‘go-ahead’ on fire repairs
- Parker patron questions city spending
- La Cygne holds line on water rates
- County Clerk David Lamb tenders official resignation
SPORTS
Jayhawk girls’ basketball defeats Pleasanton and falls to Southeast and St. Paul
The Jayhawk Linn girls’ basketball team was busy last week as they faced Pleasanton, Southeast Cherokee and St. Paul. They traveled to Pleasanton on Jan. 28 and then Southeast on Jan. 30 before hosting St. Paul on Ja. 31. The game against Pleasanton saw the Lady Hawks... [More]
Pleasanton girls’ basketball falls to Jayhawk and Arma
The Pleasanton girls’ basketball team hosted Jayhawk Linn and Northeast Arma this past week. They faced Jayhawk on Jan. 28 and then Northeast on Jan. 31. The girls battled in each game but lost both, first to Jayhawk 11-44 and then to Arma 21-32. The Lady Jays faced Jayhawk... [More]
More Sports
- Prairie View girls’ basketball are champions of the Kenny Holt Memorial tournament
- Pleasanton boys’ basketball team placed seventh at Kenny Holt Memorial Tournament
- Jayhawk girls’ basketball takes second at Uniontown
- Jayhawk boys’ wrestling places sixth at Wellsville
- Prairie View girls’ basketball has a busy week against Pioneer League competition
- Prairie View boys’ varsity wrestling places seventh at Louisburg
- Jayhawk boys’ varsity wrestling competes at Louisburg
- Jayhawk basketball sweeps Northeast Arma
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com