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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

Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025

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Linn County News Published July 23, 2025   Jean Driskell, age 82, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, July 18, 2025.   Memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation... [More]

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

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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

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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]

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PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

Special: Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in Linn County

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A Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) resurfacing project on U.S. 69 in Linn County will begin the week of July 28. The project will resurface U.S. 69 with ultrathin bonded asphalt for just over 7 miles from Pleasanton to just north of... [More]

Pleasanton FD again at center of heated discussion

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The majority of heated discussion came at the end of the Pleasanton City Council meeting Monday night during council discussion when Council people Bill Skipper and Angelina Randall squared off concerning the recent ISO inspection that occurred at the fire department. Skipper... [More]

La Cygne city to be below revenue neutral

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Ad valorem revenue will decrease by almost $16,600, levy by over 7.6 mills   The city of La Cygne will not only be revenue neutral but actually below neutral on its 2026 municipal budget. That was the report from Jodi Wade, city clerk, at last Wednesday’s regular... [More]

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SPORTS

Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship

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Eight members of the Pleasanton Trapshooting Team traveled to Mason, Mich., last week to compete in the USA Clay Target League National Championship. Five members participated in the team event, and all eight competed individually. The team was among 264 qualified teams competing... [More]

Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest

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The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team 1 places second at the TRL girls’ coach pitch tournament at Colony. The tournament took place from July 7 to July 9.

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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

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