Linda A. Erlandson
Linda A. Erlandson
Marion
Linda Ann (Knutson) Erlandson of Marion, Iowa died peacefully at her home July 29, 2024 in the presence of family. She was 78.
Linda is celebrated for her distinctive and frequent laugh, her fierce defense of those who are bullied or in need, and her forge-ahead confidence in God and in people. She was deeply curious about people and their life stories. During a 2019 girls’ trip to New York City, she’d warned her daughters and granddaughters to avoid being too open with other passersby. The next minute, she was chatting-up people on the subway.
There was nothing Linda enjoyed more than to welcome family and friends to table, to engage in conversation over food, board and card games, food, Mahjongg, puzzles, and more food. Anytime you pass a plate, you do so with Linda’s blessing.
Linda was born in Kenmare, North Dakota on Sept. 20, 1945 to the Rev. Selmer C. Knutson and Bette J. (Lee) Knutson.
A pastor’s kid, she graduated Baldwin-Woodville (Wisconsin) High School in 1963. She was an officer on the school newspaper, a clarinetist in marching band, and a member of the school’s public-speaking forensics team. She also sang in the school’s first madrigal group, and had a lead role in the school’s 1962 production of the musical “Annie Get Your Gun.”
Her siblings describe her as a powerhouse of energy and ambition. Her daughters nicknamed her the Energizer Bunny, alluding to the popular battery-company advertising mascot of the 1990s.
Linda graduated St. Barnabas School of Nursing, Minneapolis in 1966. Her first job as a registered nurse was at the Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis, an innovative rehabilitation-based center originally established for the treatment of polio. Later in her nursing career, Linda co-founded a home health care business (Home Care Associates) that provided comfort and personalized care to many clients.
On Aug. 3, 1968, she married Robert J. Erlandson of Cokato, Minnesota. The two had met in a Lutheran church choir on the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota, where he was a graduate student in electrical engineering. Early married life saw moves from Minnesota to New Mexico and Colorado, before the young family of five arrived in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, metro area. Linda enjoyed cooking, biking, cross-country skiing, gardening, canoeing, and travel.
In addition to raising three daughters, she and her husband were active in Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion, including many projects and ministries there, such as Habitat for Humanity and Community Free Health Clinic of Cedar Rapids. After retirement, among numerous volunteer activities, Linda taught at Kirkwood Community College and at the Community Free Health Clinic.
Linda is survived by her husband; a sister, Lois Lackore and her husband Stephen of Rochester, Minnesota; and two brothers, Lee Knutson and his wife Lourdes Jose of Chicago; and Lorne Knutson and his wife Marianne of Lino Lakes, Minnesota. She is also survived by three daughters, Kirsten Bich and her husband Brian Bich of Duluth, Minnesota; Karn Erlandson and her husband Kris Spence of Portage, Michigan; and Anne Erlandson Brown and her husband Randy Brown of Johnston, Iowa. She is survived by five grandchildren: Nathan and Connor Bich; Helen Spence; and Kieran and Ian Brown.
Arrangements are being made via Iowa Cremation of Cedar Rapids. A celebration of life service will be held 11 a.m. Aug. 31, 2024 at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion, Iowa. Luncheon to follow.
Memorial donations may be sent to: Community Free Health Clinic of Cedar Rapids (www.communityhfc.org/donate/) or mail to: 947 14th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; and ELCA World Hunger (www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/ELCA-World-Hunger/Ways-to-Give).