Dick McLinden

Mass for Dick McLinden, 81, who died Thursday at his home in Florence, was Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Florence.

Born Oct. 23, 1942, in Hillsboro to V.L. “Bud” and Roseva (Melson) McLinden, he was a 1960 graduate of Florence High School, attended Kansas State University for 2½ years, and became a licensed pilot in 1968.

He married Patty Longhofer on Aug. 24, 1963, and worked as a rancher and later as a deputy sheriff, undersheriff, and sheriff in Chase County.

In 1978, the family moved to Tipton, Missouri, where he worked for Feed Services Corp. of Crete, Nebraska. They moved back to Kansas in 1986. He worked for Farm Bureau Insurance and as a welder at Hillsboro Industries before landing a dream job flying pipelines for Eagle Sky Patrol of South Dakota.

He retired in 2019 and served on the Marion Airport Board in addition to being a member of Holy Family Parish and of the Father Kapaun Knights of Columbus Council.

Survivors include wife Patty of Florence, children Chuck McLinden and Susie Morton, four grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Memorials have been established with the Kapaun Knights of Columbus Council and Marion Municipal Airport.