Linda Stoltenberg

Linda Marie Stoltenberg, 66, of Garfield, Minnesota, passed away at home on Wednesday July 9, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday August 3, 2025 from 2-4pm at the Garfield City Hall & Community Center, 101 Sanstead St. East, Garfield, MN.

Linda was born on September 4, 1958, to Orville and Donna (Sibell) Ekdahl. She was the 3rd child of six children. She grew up on a dairy farm, east of Garfield, Mn by Lake Louise. In the fall of 1972, her family moved to Pheonix Arizona, due to her father’s health. Linda attended school and church. She enjoyed school drama class, school and church choir and other church activities. She graduated from East High School in 1976. In June 1976 her family moved back to Minnesota. At this time, she lived with her brother Steve (Reno) and wife Connie. In 1977 Linda worked as a Nurse’s Aide at Bethany Home in Alexandria, Mn.

In 1978 she met the love of her life, Loren. After 3 months, Loren asked Linda out on a date. And from then on, they were inseparable. Soon Linda was introduced to Loren’s daughter Stacey. Linda & Loren enjoyed fishing and dancing. They married on June 9, 1979, and in September moved to Breckenridge, Mn. Linda continued her healthcare career as a Nursing Assistant Long Term Care professional, at St. Francis Hospital in Breckenridge, Mn. In 1981, they welcomed son Daniel into their world. In the spring of 1982, Loren enlisted into the Navy, for August induction and the family moved to Alexandria. Throughout the next two years, the family would move several times, while Loren was in Navy school training. After that they moved to Scotland UK for 2 years. While in Scotland, in 1985, son Aaron was born.

Linda enjoyed their drives thru the beautiful Scottish countryside exploring. In August 1986, the family moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, for the last duty station. It was tough on Linda and two boys, as Loren was on another ship and underway a lot. Six months one time. August 1988 Loren was discharged from the Navy and the family moved back to Minnesota, for good, eventually landed in Apple Valley, Mn. There Linda accepted a Nurse’s Assistant position at the hospital in Apple Valley. In 1992, the family moved to a home in Ramsey, Mn. Linda worked at Mercy Hospital in Same Day Surgery dept, as a Nurse’s Assistant until 2006. Linda really enjoyed her work caring for people. She also had a small sewing business after that.

In November 2017 Linda and Loren sold their home in Ramsey and bought a fifth-wheel camper to live in full-time, traveling from Minnesota to South Texas and back, enjoying side trips along the way. To Linda it didn’t matter what compass direction they went, as long as she and Loren were together.

Her passion was fishing, and favorite fishing spot was the creek, half a mile down the road from home near Lake Louise. But it didn’t matter if it was in a boat, on the ice or on the T-Head of the pier. She was gonna fish and show you how it’s done. She also enjoyed her flowers and plants, which went with in the camper when traveling. Linda enjoyed taking drives to watch and count deer. She usually spotted the deer first.

Linda cherished her family. She loved to sit by a fire, with grand kids within arm’s reach. Linda loved her grand and great-grandchildren and were so very special to her. Linda loved making pancakes and everyone enjoyed them, especially the grandchildren which requested them. Linda enjoyed making cookies and sweets at Christmas time and distributing them to friends and family. She would say, ‘everyone gets something.” Christmas was all year for her. She enjoyed decorating for Christmas and for holidays. She really enjoyed watching Christmas shows year-round. She was always ready to lend a hand to anyone. She enjoyed baking and cooking meals for everyone; it made her happy to see people content. She enjoyed morning cups of coffee with friends and family for hours at the RV park. And slipping in a nap here and there. She didn’t need a lot of excitement to enjoy life. She gave much of herself and did not expect much in return.

Linda passed away after a short 5-week battle with cancer.

Linda is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Loren; children: daughter Stacey (Joe) Bock of Baxter, MN; son Daniel (Amber) Stoltenberg of Princeton, Mn; son Aaron Stoltenberg of Kingsville, Tx; Mn; seven grandchildren: Andria (Isaac) Holker of Remer, Mn; Zachary Bachman of Brainerd, Mn; Samuel Bachman of Brainerd, Mn; grandchildren: Jolie; Ellie; Lillie; Waylon; four plus one great-grandchildren: Akley; Camille; William; Vivian; Her mother Donna Myers of Alexandria, Mn; brother Dale (Cindy) Ekdahl of Alexandria; sister Laurie Jensen (Robert Noyes) of Verndale Mn; sister Lisa (Kirk) Gord of Stanchfield, Mn; sister Beth (Duane) Schecher of Park Rapids; Mn. She is also survived by five sisters-in-law; four brothers-in-law; numerous cousins and twenty nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents; her father, Orville Ekdahl; her brother, Steven Ekdahl. She will be joining them in Heaven.

Linda will be remembered as a caring, loving, kind, daughter, sister, mother, wife and friend to others. She will be missed dearly.