Linn County News
Published Aug. 11, 2021
Verena Ruth Moore, born Verena Ruth Foster, died during the late evening of May 19, 2020, in Los Angeles, Calif. She was born on Aug. 12, 1938, in La Cygne, Kan., to George and Renoma Foster. She had been a resident of York Healthcare and Wellness Centre, not far from the home of her son, Wesly, for almost two years.
Verena’s early life was spent on her family’s farm outside La Cygne. She and her parents moved to town when she was still fairly young. Her father, George, became a minister, and the family moved around quite a bit, including time spent in Fort Worth, Texas, and Texhoma, Okla. Although Verena was an only child, when she was in eighth grade in Fort Worth she found herself a sister in a girl named Quilla. Over the years, the two kept in touch and grew ever closer. Even though their families moved apart, they would often visit each other, and eventually were roommates in college.
Verena studied English and Home Economics at Southwest Baptist University at Bolivar, Mo., and Oklahoma Baptist University at Shawnee, Okla. She became a school teacher, working mainly with elementary and middle school students. She was married in June of 1962 to Samuel A. Moore and the couple moved to Los Angeles, Calif. They adopted two children– Wesly, born in March 1966, and Melody, born in July 1969 – and later had a daughter by birth, Megan, born in February 1980.
A self-described “child of the Depression,” Verena was always and forever immensely practical. She was an accomplished seamstress, and often made clothing for herself and her family. She did everything she could over the years to keep her children from worry, even though this was not always obvious at the time. She never lost her positive outlook, no matter their circumstances, even later in life when health and mobility challenges complicated her life. One of her proudest accomplishments may have been a trip she took to Russia in the early 1990s, alongside other school teachers, after the collapse and dissolution of the Soviet Union. She raised her own funding through contributions and donations, telling others that she and her colleagues were “going to help Russian teachers learn how to teach” in the absence of a state-produced curriculum.
One of the highlights of Verena’s later years was a year-long visit with her lifelong dearest friend, Quilla, at Quilla’s home in Texas. The two renewed and refreshed their great friendship, together enjoying activities such as church services on Sundays, shopping and other outings, preparing and sharing meals, and puttering in Quilla’s garden. Quilla shared that, when the time came for Verena to return home, “I was not ready for her to leave but she was missing you all. One of the sweetest things she said before leaving here was, “’Wouldn’t it be nice if we could hold hands and go into Heaven together?’ Indeed, God gave us a sister bond.”
Verena is survived by her son Wesly; daughters Melody and Megan; sons-in-law Chuck, Gary and Steven; ex-husband Sam; granddaughters Hannah and Amanda; and lifelong friend and chosen sister Quilla Hill.
A small, private family service was held in Orange, Calif., on May 26, 2020. In the fullness of time, an interment service will be held at Ninety Six Cemetery in La Cygne, Kan. Verena will be buried alongside her parents and overlooking La Cygne Lake, which now covers the site of her grandparents’ family farm.
OBITUARIES
Norma Jeanne (Riley) Long ~ 08-21-1938 to 10-13-2025

Linn County News Published October 22, 2025 Norma Jeanne (Riley) Long, age 87, of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, at Vintage Park in Osawatomie, Kan., surrounded by family. Norma was born on Aug. 21, 1938, in Liberal, Kan., to Frederick and... [More]
Geneva Darlene Jennings ~ 11-15-1939 to 10-12-2025

Linn County News Published October 15, 2025 Geneva Darlene Jennings, age 85, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. She was born on Nov. 15, 1939, at Trading Post, Kan., the daughter of Charles and Daisy Rittinghouse Purdy. She graduated from Pleasanton High... [More]
Mary Margaret Wilson ~ 01-08-1930 to 10-13-2025

Linn County News Published October 15, 2025 Mary Margaret Wilson of Mound City, Kan., age 95, was called home to be with the Lord Oct. 13, 2025. She resided at the Anew Healthcare facility in Pleasanton, Kan. She was born in La Cygne, Kan., to Edwin Josheph Riley and Eva... [More]
More Obituaries
- Letha Spillman ~ 06-19-1929 to 10-02-2025
- Mary Alice Fagg ~ 07-30-1933 to 09-25-2025
- John T. Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- Paul David Hamilton ~ 11-07-1950 to 09-23-2025
- Lora Lynn West ~ 10-22-1959 to 09-24-2025
- Lois Ann Simons ~ 11-12-1937 to 09-27-2025
- Betty Joan Haupt ~ 10-03-1931 to 09-29-2025
- Carolyn Lee Wilson Dunlop ~ 12-15-1944 to 09-27-2025
NEWS
Souza resigns county clerk post

Linn County’s county clerk is resigning. At the weekly Linn County Commission meeting Tuesday morning, delayed a day because of Monday’s governmental Columbus Day holiday, Danielle Souza spoke during the public comment agenda section of her intention to resign the... [More]
Farmers State Bank under new ownership

Time moves on and things change – and the banking world is not exempt from those changes. When Farmers State Bank owner Dale Sprague passed away in August of 2024, his wife Janice and family made those changes when they sold the three banks this fall to Citizen Bank owner’s... [More]
Linn Valley council updated on water, lagoon projects

Linn Valley city council held its first meeting of the month on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Lewis Donelson began the meeting by asking city employees present at the meeting to stand up front and introduce themselves and state their job title. The mayor continued by... [More]
More News
- Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case
- Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair
- La Cygne awards lift station bid
- Appraiser’s office announces completion of review
- SPECIAL: KBI conducts statewide marijuana enforcement operation
- Pleasanton council vetoed on fire volunteer appointments
- Kansas Policy Institute talks property taxes with legislature
- Pleasanton city candidate forum Oct. 6
SPORTS
Schneider makes State for Hawks in girls’ golf

Celeste Schneider made the 3-1A State golf tournament again this year for the Lady Hawks and will be looking to earn another State medal. To see the full article, check out this week's edition of the Linn County News or check out the online version here.
Wade and Britz advance to State for the Buffalos

The Prairie View girls’ golf team is doing well. The girls won the Pioneer League championship at Deer Trace on Oct. 7 and then followed that up by placing fourth at 3-1A Sub-State tournament at Crestwood in Pittsburg on Oct. 13. The Lady Buffs won the league tournament... [More]
Blu-Jays convert takeaways into Homecoming win

Pleasanton converted two second-quarter fumble recoveries and a third-quarter interception into passing touchdowns to break a three-game losing skid and claim a 41-6 Homecoming win over Southeast-Cherokee Friday at Blu-Jay Nation Stadium. The victory moves the ‘Jays’... [More]
More Sports
- Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown
- Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week
- Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming
- Prairie View football dominates Burlington on Homecoming
- Pleasanton volleyball travels to Arma and Prairie View
- Jayhawk volleyball goes 4-0 on the week
- Pleasanton volleyball competes at Yates Center and Humboldt
- Prairie View football picks up a big win against Wellsville
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com
