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When my family and I moved to Minnesota back in 2008 Linda and Kent were the first neighbors we met. They welcomed us like family. Linda quickly became a stand in grandmother for my young kids since all my family was 1,000 miles away! I had barely known her for 5 minutes yet found myself sitting at her kitchen island sharing a glass of wine and it felt like I knew her for a lifetime! We spent many a nights at that island 🍷

Linda had the ability to change the air in a room, she made everyone she met feel like the most special person in the world, she was always good for a laugh, a shoulder to cry on, and gave the best advice. The pain I feel since her passing is immeasurable....but Linda wouldn’t want any of us to be sad. In fact, she would hate i…

Doug and I met Linda when she and Kent began dating. We loved her right away and the two of us girls clicked as friends. Getting together with Kent and Linda was always some kind of fun adventure that included….boating in Marion, Il (where our husbands stranded us on the beach for a couple hours) or attending our husband’s class reunions, or skiing in sub zero weather, or biking in WI (for all of a few miles), or swimming with our kids in the frigid lake waters of MN, or driving from Miami to Key West. Wherever we were our time together was filled with laughter and fond memories were made.

I will remember Linda as the perfect hostess with the mostest. She made you feel welcome….like family! She was a great cook and I always came away with a recipe. I loved her laugh, her smile, her funny storie…

Beautiful lady! When Blair and I would come to Minnesota for a visit, wedding or just to get out of the Florida hot sun, we would try to get together with the Phalen's and Byers. We had such a fun time together, laughing, a few cocktails and just spending time together. We were just in Minnesota end of October and realized Linda was in the hospital. Our hearts were broken and all we could do is pray that her pain would go away. Everyday I think of her and tears are in my eyes. So young and full of life but she was also a very tough women to fight and fight. She will be deeply missed but our memories will live in our hearts forever.

Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing…

It is with great sorrow that we learned of the passing of Linda. It surely is a tragedy that such a beautiful and courageous lady was taken from us at such a young age. Linda did so much for her patients, friends and family and I'm sure the empty feeling you have in your hearts will last forever.

She will suffer no longer; may she rest in peace.

Sisters Mary Vinard and Margaret Rogiers send along their deepest condolences.

Kent, when my parents packed me off every summer to the farm to pester your family I will always consider you the brother I never had. I share your sense of grief and sorrow with Linda's passing.

God Bless Kent!

God Bless Robert, Shannon and Candace and their beautiful families. God Bless and keep the wonderful grandbabies. God Bless Linda's treasured friends.

Linda...What a special person and Best Friend of both Karen and I.

Kent, We will always cherish the memories we have with you and Linda. All of great Purina Trips that we spent fun times together, sometimes doing crazy things. We are so glad you came to visit us at our new home in Las Vegas April, 2019 (some of the pictures below, when we went to the Bellagio) . We had lots of conversations and a little wine. So happy we came to stay with you and Linda this summer at your condo, just before you moved to your new home. Then the time we spent together at the Reunion. Karen and I were truly saddened when Linda left us, but she will always be in our hearts. She was truly a special person. Kent, please come and stay with us, whenever it works for you.…

Linda was such a fun person to be around, as she always radiated light and positive energy. I have many fond memories of all of us kids playing together on Alpine Ave. and Walden in Sioux City. Kent and Linda always made me feel welcome. Some of my favorite times at the Phalen house were dancing to Boy George in the living room (mostly spinning in circles until we got dizzy and fell down), playing with their dog Daisy, watching Poltergeist for the first time (still the scariest movie I've ever seen), Linda helping me make a Valentine's Day box for the school party because my mom was not artistically inclined, and who could forget Linda making Robert's amazing vulture costume for our 2nd grade Bird Show at Nodland with the giant, red paper mache head! It was so nice to reconnect with Linda and Kent in the Twin C…

I met Linda when i was 6. She was my BFF’s, Shannon’s, mom. i don’t know when I officially started referring to her as my ‘bonus mom‘ but I know it felt like she just always was. Every summer Linda would drive hours back and forth to pick me up/drop me off so that I could visit Shannon in Wausau. It would always just be me and her (Shannon was working at Wendy’s or at Karate or someplace each time 🤔). We’d listen to the oldies station and she’d do her goofy dance moves. We‘d chat and she’d listen.❤️ Linda was the first one to know something wasn’t okay with me (right before being diagnosed with type one). i remember being in her kitchen and getting the ”look” “now Megan McPhalen, you’ve look like you‘ve lost 10 pounds in a week.” She was worried and thought I was trying to lose…

I would have sent this to you, mom, as it completely sums up my childhood with you-I'd get so mad at you- specifically thinking of Jasmine when you "ruined" the sexyness by making me wear a sweatsuit underneath 🙄😂