Richard Neal Smith, 63, went home to be with the Lord Aug. 30, 2015, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Richard was born Feb. 25, 1952, to Roy Jr., and Marianna Sutterby Smith in Fort Scott, Kan. He graduated from Blue Mound High School in 1970 and then furthered his education with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Kansas University.
Richard met the love of his life on a double date in high school and married Susan (Rogers) Jan. 13, 1973. Richard and Susan were blessed with three children, their spouses and five grandchildren, Samuel Smith, his wife, Jennifer, and their son, Cooper, of Shawnee, Kan.; Ted Smith, his wife, Allison, and their children, Avery and Natalie, of Belton, Texas; and Lattica Smith Foster, her husband, Daniel, and their children, Tanner and Hayden, of the Netherlands. Richard is also survived by his mother-in-law, Eleanor Rogers, of Mapleton, Kan.; two brothers, Phillip of Paola, Kan., and Stan and his wife, Frankie, of La Harpe, Kan.; and his sister, Jennifer Smith Hughes, and her husband, Mike, of Blue Mound, Kan.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents.
He worked for Spectra Energy and its predecessors for 40 years. Richard became a Master Mason in 1974, a member of The Scottish Rite in Fort Scott, Kan., and a member of Abdallah Shrine in Overland Park, Kan. He was also a Past Patron of Union #15 Order of the Eastern Star in Ottawa, Kan., and a Past Patron and active member in Tomball Chapter #838 Order of the Eastern Star and Tomball Lodge #1096. He was also a longtime member of Cypresswood Free Methodist Church of Spring, Texas.
He enjoyed wood working, computers, habitat projects and fun times with his family and colleagues.
Richard and Susan moved to Belton, Texas, in 2014 to be closer to family, his pride and joy!
Richard fought a brave battle with cancer. His love of life, encouraging and positive attitude and heartwarming smiles will always be with us.
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, at 10 a.m. at Klein Funeral Home in Tomball, Texas, with The Order of the Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge services. Kevin Niemann will officiate. The family will receive friends and family from 9-10 a.m. prior to the service. Burial services will be in Mapleton, Kan., at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to https://gifts.mdanderson.org for Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma (EHE) cancer research or https://rebuildhouston.org.
OBITUARIES
Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025

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

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]
More Obituaries
- Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025
- 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
NEWS
Special: Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in Linn County

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

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

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]
More News
- USD 362 files revenue-neutral exceedances
- Commissioners discuss airport future, request more information
- SPECIAL: Resurfacing on U.S. 59 in Anderson County to begin in August 4
- Commissioners vote to exceed revenue neutral
- Mulberry Limestone CUP approved by P & Z
- SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees
- Commissioners discuss various budgets
- City learns of fire gear condition
SPORTS
Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship

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

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.
More Sports
- Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament
- Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship
- Gratton at Nationals
- 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
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

