Linda Elaine Strong born April 27, 1951 in Basin, WY to Cora Jane (Hefner) Strong and John Ross Strong, died September 24, 2010 at Providence Centralia Hospital, of cardiac conditions. She is survived by her father, John R. Strong, husband Jonathan Karlin and daughter Shellee Billings all at the family home in Rochester. She is also survived by her son Brian (Jennifer) Billings and her first grandson Tyler. She was thrilled to learn just weeks ago that Brian and Jenn have another grandchild on the way. Linda is also survived by her two stepdaughters, Maria Karlin and Monica (Michael) Bloom, numerous nieces and nephews from both the Billings and the Karlin families, including Amie (Jason) Davis (Kohlhas), Nicole (Jeff) Terry (Kohlhas), Joseph Kohlhas and Joshua Kohlhas.
She is preceded in death by her sister Carol Jeanne, who died in childhood, her mother and her first husband Greg Billings. Linda was proud of her Muscogee and Cherokee heritage and sought to learn more about it.
Linda grew up near Manderson and Basin, WY and being raised in the country she never outgrew her love of horses. She was riding horses as early as three years old. Her dad John recalls Linda's determination at an early age when an old horse dumped her by brushing her off on a low-hanging limb and then heading back to the corral. Linda stomped to the house hollering about that horse, and Dad would help her get back on, since she was too short to mount it herself.
A skilled horsewoman, Linda worked for a summer at Girl Scouts Northwest in Wyoming, where she cowgirled and tended horses. The last horse Linda broke to ride was a wild mare named Quest. She bought the horse for $25 at an auction and broke her in order to fulfill a college class requirement; breaking horses was part of the curriculum in Wyoming. Linda attended Central Wyoming College in Riverton and wanted to become a park ranger. She had an instructor who didn't believe women should go to college, and she was the last woman to be forced out of his class. Linda also worked as a flagger for road construction crews. There she met Bill Kountz, with whom she had a daughter Shellee, born in 1973.
In March 1976 Linda and Shellee joined her mother and stepfather Jane and Tom Porter, in moving to Rochester, WA. Linda soon found a job in Central Supply at what was then Centralia General Hospital, now Providence-Centralia, where she would work up until her death. At the time of her passing she was the OR Inventory Coordinator and managed surgical supplies for thousands of surgery patients. She was an institution at the hospital, a go-to person who was likely to know how to solve a given problem. She worked long hours to make sure that her work was done right and was often the last person to go home.
Linda met Greg Billings in 1977 and they married in 1978. Her son Brian was born in June 1980. Linda and Greg bought a home in Rochester, which remains the family home today. Linda became active in the Rochester School District, helping to found the Rochester PTSA. Linda also played a significant role in the Weed and Seed program, Rochester Parks District, Rochester Organization of Families (ROOF), and the Rochester VFW Auxiliary in the capacity of President. She was a parent volunteer for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth soccer, little league baseball, and the Michigan Hillbillies 4-H club. Over the years she attended the Centralia Church of the Nazarene, St. Mark's Lutheran church and Immanuel Lutheran Church.
After Greg died in 1997, Linda lived alone and nurtured many friendships. She enjoyed many trips to Long Beach, WA and to her childhood hometowns of Hyattville and Manderson, WY. She married Jon Karlin in August 2007 and started perhaps the happiest chapter of her life. Together Linda and Jon attended music concerts and traveled to destinations from Alaska to Utah. She particularly loved Utah, with its colors and rock formations. Most recently she enjoyed taking the ferry to Orcas Island. Linda also enjoyed spending time with friends from the Centralia - Chehalis Elks Lodge #2493.
Linda loved animals, particularly the many cats and dogs who came into her life over the years. She created a haven for tree frogs in her garden and delighted in their presence.
Linda made an indelible impact on countless lives in Lewis and Thurston Counties. She lifted the spirits of all she touched. In lieu of flowers, remembrances my be made to Rochester Organization of Families, P.O. Box 312, Rochester, WA 98579. A memorial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1209 N. Scheuber Road in Centralia.
She is preceded in death by her sister Carol Jeanne, who died in childhood, her mother and her first husband Greg Billings. Linda was proud of her Muscogee and Cherokee heritage and sought to learn more about it.
Linda grew up near Manderson and Basin, WY and being raised in the country she never outgrew her love of horses. She was riding horses as early as three years old. Her dad John recalls Linda's determination at an early age when an old horse dumped her by brushing her off on a low-hanging limb and then heading back to the corral. Linda stomped to the house hollering about that horse, and Dad would help her get back on, since she was too short to mount it herself.
A skilled horsewoman, Linda worked for a summer at Girl Scouts Northwest in Wyoming, where she cowgirled and tended horses. The last horse Linda broke to ride was a wild mare named Quest. She bought the horse for $25 at an auction and broke her in order to fulfill a college class requirement; breaking horses was part of the curriculum in Wyoming. Linda attended Central Wyoming College in Riverton and wanted to become a park ranger. She had an instructor who didn't believe women should go to college, and she was the last woman to be forced out of his class. Linda also worked as a flagger for road construction crews. There she met Bill Kountz, with whom she had a daughter Shellee, born in 1973.
In March 1976 Linda and Shellee joined her mother and stepfather Jane and Tom Porter, in moving to Rochester, WA. Linda soon found a job in Central Supply at what was then Centralia General Hospital, now Providence-Centralia, where she would work up until her death. At the time of her passing she was the OR Inventory Coordinator and managed surgical supplies for thousands of surgery patients. She was an institution at the hospital, a go-to person who was likely to know how to solve a given problem. She worked long hours to make sure that her work was done right and was often the last person to go home.
Linda met Greg Billings in 1977 and they married in 1978. Her son Brian was born in June 1980. Linda and Greg bought a home in Rochester, which remains the family home today. Linda became active in the Rochester School District, helping to found the Rochester PTSA. Linda also played a significant role in the Weed and Seed program, Rochester Parks District, Rochester Organization of Families (ROOF), and the Rochester VFW Auxiliary in the capacity of President. She was a parent volunteer for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth soccer, little league baseball, and the Michigan Hillbillies 4-H club. Over the years she attended the Centralia Church of the Nazarene, St. Mark's Lutheran church and Immanuel Lutheran Church.
After Greg died in 1997, Linda lived alone and nurtured many friendships. She enjoyed many trips to Long Beach, WA and to her childhood hometowns of Hyattville and Manderson, WY. She married Jon Karlin in August 2007 and started perhaps the happiest chapter of her life. Together Linda and Jon attended music concerts and traveled to destinations from Alaska to Utah. She particularly loved Utah, with its colors and rock formations. Most recently she enjoyed taking the ferry to Orcas Island. Linda also enjoyed spending time with friends from the Centralia - Chehalis Elks Lodge #2493.
Linda loved animals, particularly the many cats and dogs who came into her life over the years. She created a haven for tree frogs in her garden and delighted in their presence.
Linda made an indelible impact on countless lives in Lewis and Thurston Counties. She lifted the spirits of all she touched. In lieu of flowers, remembrances my be made to Rochester Organization of Families, P.O. Box 312, Rochester, WA 98579. A memorial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1209 N. Scheuber Road in Centralia.
Linda Elaine Strong born April 27, 1951 in Basin, WY to Cora Jane (Hefner) Strong and John Ross Strong, died September 24, 2010 at Providence Centralia Hospital, of cardiac conditions. She is survived by her father, John R. Strong, husband Jonathan Karlin and daughter Shellee Billings all at the family home in Rochester. She is also survived by her son Brian (Jennifer) Billings and her first grandson Tyler. She was thrilled to learn just weeks ago that Brian and Jenn have another grandchild on the way. Linda is also survived by her two stepdaughters, Maria Karlin and Monica (Michael) Bloom, numerous nieces and nephews from both the Billings and the Karlin families, including Amie (Jason) Davis (Kohlhas), Nicole (Jeff) Terry (Kohlhas), Joseph Kohlhas and Joshua Kohlhas.
She is preceded in death by her sister Carol Jeanne, who died in childhood, her mother and her first husband Greg Billings. Linda was proud of her Muscogee and Cherokee heritage and sought to learn more about it.
Linda grew up near Manderson and Basin, WY and being raised in the country she never outgrew her love of horses. She was riding horses as early as three years old. Her dad John recalls Linda's determination at an early age when an old horse dumped her by brushing her off on a low-hanging limb and then heading back to the corral. Linda stomped to the house hollering about that horse, and Dad would help her get back on, since she was too short to mount it herself.
A skilled horsewoman, Linda worked for a summer at Girl Scouts Northwest in Wyoming, where she cowgirled and tended horses. The last horse Linda broke to ride was a wild mare named Quest. She bought the horse for $25 at an auction and broke her in order to fulfill a college class requirement; breaking horses was part of the curriculum in Wyoming. Linda attended Central Wyoming College in Riverton and wanted to become a park ranger. She had an instructor who didn't believe women should go to college, and she was the last woman to be forced out of his class. Linda also worked as a flagger for road construction crews. There she met Bill Kountz, with whom she had a daughter Shellee, born in 1973.
In March 1976 Linda and Shellee joined her mother and stepfather Jane and Tom Porter, in moving to Rochester, WA. Linda soon found a job in Central Supply at what was then Centralia General Hospital, now Providence-Centralia, where she would work up until her death. At the time of her passing she was the OR Inventory Coordinator and managed surgical supplies for thousands of surgery patients. She was an institution at the hospital, a go-to person who was likely to know how to solve a given problem. She worked long hours to make sure that her work was done right and was often the last person to go home.
Linda met Greg Billings in 1977 and they married in 1978. Her son Brian was born in June 1980. Linda and Greg bought a home in Rochester, which remains the family home today. Linda became active in the Rochester School District, helping to found the Rochester PTSA. Linda also played a significant role in the Weed and Seed program, Rochester Parks District, Rochester Organization of Families (ROOF), and the Rochester VFW Auxiliary in the capacity of President. She was a parent volunteer for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth soccer, little league baseball, and the Michigan Hillbillies 4-H club. Over the years she attended the Centralia Church of the Nazarene, St. Mark's Lutheran church and Immanuel Lutheran Church.
After Greg died in 1997, Linda lived alone and nurtured many friendships. She enjoyed many trips to Long Beach, WA and to her childhood hometowns of Hyattville and Manderson, WY. She married Jon Karlin in August 2007 and started perhaps the happiest chapter of her life. Together Linda and Jon attended music concerts and traveled to destinations from Alaska to Utah. She particularly loved Utah, with its colors and rock formations. Most recently she enjoyed taking the ferry to Orcas Island. Linda also enjoyed spending time with friends from the Centralia - Chehalis Elks Lodge #2493.
Linda loved animals, particularly the many cats and dogs who came into her life over the years. She created a haven for tree frogs in her garden and delighted in their presence.
Linda made an indelible impact on countless lives in Lewis and Thurston Counties. She lifted the spirits of all she touched. In lieu of flowers, remembrances my be made to Rochester Organization of Families, P.O. Box 312, Rochester, WA 98579. A memorial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1209 N. Scheuber Road in Centralia.
She is preceded in death by her sister Carol Jeanne, who died in childhood, her mother and her first husband Greg Billings. Linda was proud of her Muscogee and Cherokee heritage and sought to learn more about it.
Linda grew up near Manderson and Basin, WY and being raised in the country she never outgrew her love of horses. She was riding horses as early as three years old. Her dad John recalls Linda's determination at an early age when an old horse dumped her by brushing her off on a low-hanging limb and then heading back to the corral. Linda stomped to the house hollering about that horse, and Dad would help her get back on, since she was too short to mount it herself.
A skilled horsewoman, Linda worked for a summer at Girl Scouts Northwest in Wyoming, where she cowgirled and tended horses. The last horse Linda broke to ride was a wild mare named Quest. She bought the horse for $25 at an auction and broke her in order to fulfill a college class requirement; breaking horses was part of the curriculum in Wyoming. Linda attended Central Wyoming College in Riverton and wanted to become a park ranger. She had an instructor who didn't believe women should go to college, and she was the last woman to be forced out of his class. Linda also worked as a flagger for road construction crews. There she met Bill Kountz, with whom she had a daughter Shellee, born in 1973.
In March 1976 Linda and Shellee joined her mother and stepfather Jane and Tom Porter, in moving to Rochester, WA. Linda soon found a job in Central Supply at what was then Centralia General Hospital, now Providence-Centralia, where she would work up until her death. At the time of her passing she was the OR Inventory Coordinator and managed surgical supplies for thousands of surgery patients. She was an institution at the hospital, a go-to person who was likely to know how to solve a given problem. She worked long hours to make sure that her work was done right and was often the last person to go home.
Linda met Greg Billings in 1977 and they married in 1978. Her son Brian was born in June 1980. Linda and Greg bought a home in Rochester, which remains the family home today. Linda became active in the Rochester School District, helping to found the Rochester PTSA. Linda also played a significant role in the Weed and Seed program, Rochester Parks District, Rochester Organization of Families (ROOF), and the Rochester VFW Auxiliary in the capacity of President. She was a parent volunteer for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth soccer, little league baseball, and the Michigan Hillbillies 4-H club. Over the years she attended the Centralia Church of the Nazarene, St. Mark's Lutheran church and Immanuel Lutheran Church.
After Greg died in 1997, Linda lived alone and nurtured many friendships. She enjoyed many trips to Long Beach, WA and to her childhood hometowns of Hyattville and Manderson, WY. She married Jon Karlin in August 2007 and started perhaps the happiest chapter of her life. Together Linda and Jon attended music concerts and traveled to destinations from Alaska to Utah. She particularly loved Utah, with its colors and rock formations. Most recently she enjoyed taking the ferry to Orcas Island. Linda also enjoyed spending time with friends from the Centralia - Chehalis Elks Lodge #2493.
Linda loved animals, particularly the many cats and dogs who came into her life over the years. She created a haven for tree frogs in her garden and delighted in their presence.
Linda made an indelible impact on countless lives in Lewis and Thurston Counties. She lifted the spirits of all she touched. In lieu of flowers, remembrances my be made to Rochester Organization of Families, P.O. Box 312, Rochester, WA 98579. A memorial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1209 N. Scheuber Road in Centralia.
Bio by: Sherry McCormick
Gravesite Details
Source: Cemetery Directory DEX, Sponsored by Children of Harrington & Brome & Maintained by Atwood; Photo 20131005P1090157
Family Members
Parents
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
