Linda Ehlers

Linda Ehlers passed away on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was enroute with her husband from their winter home, near the Salton Sea in southern California, to their permanent home in Buffalo, Wyoming. They were visiting their son Kevin’s family, in Tooele, Utah. She suffered a major brain bleed stroke on April 27. She was surrounded by loving family at all times during her passing.

Linda was born on August 5, 1946, in Iowa City, Iowa to George and Dorothy Johnson. She was the second oldest of five siblings and grew up in Washington, Iowa. She graduated from Washington High School in 1964, and from Muscatine (IA) Junior College in 1966. On August 2, 1969, she was united in marriage to John Ehlers.

Linda and John established their first home in Minneapolis, Minnesota where they resided until 1972.  During this time Linda worked as a payroll supervisor for IDS Properties. Their move to Cheyenne was shortly followed by the birth of their oldest son, Matthew. In 1976, the couple was blessed by the arrival of twins – son Kevin and daughter Krista. Linda was primarily a homemaker as the children were in preschool and early elementary ages, but she always contributed significantly to the family’s financial situation by doing things like childcare for working mothers, as well as pursuing her passion for having a productive garden and kitchen. In 1984, John and Linda moved the family to Buffalo, Wyoming. As soon as the children’s schooling was settled and stable, Linda gained full-time school-year employment with the local school district, assisting with the education of special needs children. By the time the twins left home on higher education endeavors, Linda was able to position herself to return to college to finish an education degree, with a focus on Special Education. She accomplished her degree work by spending summers at Casper College and attending the University of Montana- Billings for one year as a full-time on-campus student. Upon graduation in December 1998, Linda was immediately employed full-time. Almost all her teaching was in Big Horn, Wyoming where she educated and mentored students in grades 6-12.  In 2008, Linda retired from her beloved teaching career, and she and John began motorhome traveling, and ultimately became full-fledged seasonal snowbirds, allowing her to be out of doors and active all year around.

Linda was an ardent patriot and loved quietly being with and serving others. In retirement, she found ample time to pursue her art talents- especially painting and became quite accomplished. Family, and others, were always top priorities with Linda. She also had a lifelong passion for the kitchen and honored many by sharing her talents. Every Christmas lighting season was an opportunity to “top” her previous year. Linda was very involved in her winter season church, FOY Interfaith, as well as having long-established connections with the First United Methodist Church of Buffalo.

Survivors include her husband, John, and children Matt (Rachel) of Buffalo, Kevin (Gloria) of Tooele, UT and Krista (Tracy) Dunn of Buffalo; siblings Michael (Dee) Johnson of St Louis, Mo, Sue (David) Huff of Cheyenne, WY, Gregory Johnson of Minneapolis, MN, and Eric (Rhonda) Johnson of Bellville, Ohio; grandchildren – Sophia and Hannah Whetstone, Kerstan and Meredith and Alyson Ehlers, Connor, and Carter Dunn; great-grandchild Xolia Ehlers. and numerous aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Preceding Linda in death were her parents.

A Celebration of Life services for Linda M Ehlers, 77, of Buffalo will be held Saturday, May 25, at 10:00am at First United Methodist Church of Buffalo, with Sue Bond leading. A private burial service will take place at a later date.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com. Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.