William Henry “Bill” Lewis, age 85 of Amsterdam, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Amsterdam. He was born Oct. 22, 1930, to Percy Wallis and Alice Loraine Russell Lewis in Merwin, Mo.
Bill, one of ten children, grew up in and was a lifelong resident of Amsterdam. He attended Willow Branch Grade School and Amsterdam High School.
On Jan. 25, 1951, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Lea McClanahan and to this union five children were born. Bill was a farmer and raised cattle. He also worked as a rural mail carrier for 20 years. Bill started a port-a-potty business before selling in 2005. Bill was very active in his community. He served on the ASCS Board, was a member of the Beefmaster Association and also served as president of the Miami School Board.
Bill enjoyed working with the 4-H kids, woodworking, and was a talented furniture maker. He made furniture for all his family—and handcrafted several wood pieces for all of his nephews and nieces. Bill could always be found at the school and sporting events of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bill is survived by his wife, Marjorie Lea Lewis, of Amsterdam, Mo.; three sons Richard Lee Lewis and wife, Kathy, and Charles William Lewis and wife, Carol, all of Amsterdam, Mo., and Roy Wallis Lewis and significant other Karen Higgs of Adrian, Mo.; two daughters Carolyn Loraine Bridges and husband, Mike, and Cathryn Sue Slattery and husband, Dennis, all of Amsterdam, Mo.; one brother Jack Lewis and wife, Betty, of Butler, Mo.; three sisters Jean Thornbrugh and husband, Eugene, of Vacaville, Calif., Fern Lewis of LaMirda, Calif., and Judy White and husband, Larry, of Butler, Mo.; 17 grandchildren Chad Lewis and significant other Michelle Blossom-Scheele, Christy DeBruin and husband, Rick, Andy Lewis and wife, Cristy, Carrie Wilson and husband, Tommy, Kyle Lewis and wife, Megan, Kelsey Dean and husband, Phillip, Chris Bridges and wife, Heather, Evan Bridges and significant other Ashley Jacquinot, Darren Bridges and wife, Nikki, Austin Bridges and significant other Taylor Swezey, Ryan Slattery and significant other Cassy VanGilder, Jenna Slattery, Caitlin Slattery, Megan Lewis, Rian Lewis, Zachary Lewis and Clay Mellgren and wife, Therese; and 19 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers Don and Charles; two sisters Doris Luttrell and husband, Norman, and Geral Filbeck and husband, Cub; one brother-in-law Bill Lewis; an infant sister Elsie Irene Lewis; one grandson Jared Slattery; and in-laws Roy and Carolene McClanahan.
Funeral services were Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Mo., with Pastor Chris Frost officiating. Burial in West Point Cemetery, Amsterdam, Mo.
Contributions to Amsterdam Baptist Church or Heartland Hospice. Online condolences, www.schowengerdtchapel.com.
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
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- 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
