Linn County News
Published Aug. 21, 2024
Walda Ann Baker, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed peacefully on Aug. 3, 2024. She was born Jan. 14, 1943, to Walter and Edna (Moulton) Hilliard. She was raised in the Manhattan area. Walda furthered her education at Kansas State University and Emporia State University. She then completed her education with her Master’s degree from Pittsburg State University when her sons were young. She began her career as an educator at La Cygne Rural High School in the 1965-66 school year and continued there until transitioning to the Prairie View school district in 1970 when the school opened. She primarily taught Spanish, along with English and Speech. She taught at the Junior and Senior High levels, and taught night classes through Fort Scott Community College. She sponsored the Spanish Club and was the Dance/Drill Team coach for many years after founding it in 1972. Walda taught in the Prairie View school district for 33 years; retiring July 1, 1998.
Walda began dating Dennis (“Denny”) Robert Baker shortly after she began her teaching career in La Cygne. They surprised their families by “running to the border” to get married in Miami, Okla., on July 11, 1966. She gave birth to a daughter on Jan. 1, 1965. Tiffany was lovingly raised by the Pierpoint Family in Wichita. Dennis and Walda had two sons, Brian Robert, born April 17, 1969, and Bruce Michael, born Dec. 9, 1970. Walda was active in 4-H growing up, and continued that with her sons in their youth. She was a member of the La Cygne United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and played the piano during service. She was an avid cat enthusiast and, to her husband’s chagrin, often cared for a multitude of neighborhood strays in addition to raising show cats for many years.
She loved reading, sewing, singing, exercising, and playing along with Jeopardy (not giving anyone else in the house time to answer first). Walda and Dennis met her biological daughter, Tiffany, and her family the summer of 1997. A wonderful friendship between families was formed and continued through the years.
Dennis and Walda moved to Paola in 1999 where they became members of the Paola United Methodist Church where both were active in the choir. They returned to Linn Valley to be closer to family around 2003. After Denny’s passing, Walda returned to Paola for several years where she enjoyed spending time with her neighbors, planting flowers, feeding birds and squirrels, caring for her cats, and maintaining an active lifestyle.
She returned to Linn Valley in 2019 but was unable to remain in her home due to unexpected illness, and ultimately moved to Olathe to better meet her healthcare needs. She transferred to Louisburg Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center shortly before her passing to have her family closer. While living at Homestead of Olathe Memory Care, she was a very active resident who stole the hearts of her caregivers. She especially loved when music was played and she sang and danced along. She especially loved dancing to Michael Jackson songs and even got the hang of hip-hop dance moves when dancing with her aides.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dennis; and son, Brian. She is survived by son Bruce, (Rochelle) of Linn Valley; biological daughter, Tiffany (Patrick) Dunlay of Mason City, Iowa; four grandsons: Brian II (Taylor), Brandon (Laura), Brett (Brittany), and Michael (Sydnie); three granddaughters: Courtney (Zach), Alexandra (Derik), and Lauren (Ryan); and fifteen great-grandchildren: Brian III, Bradley, Eric, Soren, Solara, Landon, Lincoln, Kara, Liam, Lucas, Addison, Harper, Mason, Talitha, and Selah, with number sixteen on the way.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, at the Schneider Funeral Home in La Cygne. Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Paola United Methodist Church with burial in Oaklawn Cemetery in La Cygne.
As Walda always dreamed of opening a sanctuary for cats, family suggests contributions be made to local cat rescue, Four Kids for Kritters at https://www.fourkidsforkritters.com/donate, or the Paola UMC music fund if preferred, and checks may be sent in care of Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box 304, La Cygne, KS 66040. Friends and family may leave online condolences at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith passed away Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community in Manhattan. She was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Gladys (Goldsmith)... [More]
Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Ron Arbogast, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born Aug. 31, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan.,... [More]
Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025

Linn County News Published June 25, 2025 Richard "Dick" Smith, age 83, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in Olathe, Kan., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions... [More]
More Obituaries
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
- Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025
- Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
- Rees Lyle Shattuck 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025
- Dixie Bradley Wilkerson 10-15-1939 to 05-30-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
NEWS
NOTICE:

Due to a scheduling conflict, the commissioners will not be meeting today, June 25th, for a second budget workshop. The meeting has been rescheduled for July 2nd.
Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners

Requests declaratory judgement that roads are private The Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association, Inc. (TLOA), filed a lawsuit in Linn County District Court on June 6, 2025, against the Linn County Board of County Commissioners requesting a declaratory judgement from... [More]
Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy

On June 20, following an extensive investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Attorney’s Office filed a case in district court charging Erik Hellner, a Sugar Valley Lakes resident, with six separate felonies. The case originally stems from... [More]
More News
- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
- Parker mayor seeks affidavits to file charges
- USD 346 board learns of overpayments
- NOTICE
- Commissioners discuss estimate on overlay project
- Pleasanton council meeting heated over fire personnel interviews
- La Cygne gas customers may see rate decrease
SPORTS
Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship

The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Wichita to compete in the Kansas Trapshooting State tournament. The tournament features more than 110 high schools and over 1,500 student athletes. Pleasanton/Jayhawk compete in the 2A competition which happened on June... [More]
Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad

Prairie View’s head boys’ wrestling Coach Joey Ewalt does more for the sport than just coaching the Buffalos, he has made an impact on the sport as a wrestler, coach and official. Ewalt began his wrestling career at the very young age of four. His father, Mike Ewalt,... [More]
More Sports
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record
- Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State
- School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka
- Prairie View track qualifies multiple athletes for State
OBITUARIES POLICY
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

