NICHOLSON, Linda I. (1939-2020)

NICHOLSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/6/2022 at 19:14:56

Linda Irene Nicholson
(November 18, 1939 - September 3, 2020)

Linda Irene Laird was born November 18, 1939, the daughter of Marvin & Fonda (Robuck) Laird Growing up she and her family lived in various parts of Marion County Iowa, settling finally on a farmstead at Attica, Iowa. She had a brother Charles b. 1942 and a sister Susan b. 1947.
Linda was active in 4-H in participating in a variety of projects. Including sewing, livestock, furniture refinishing, Conservation Camp, etc. Linda was active in UMYF and church activities. She learned to play the accordion and the piano, and played girls basketball. She graduated Attica High School in the class of 1958. Next she worked as a secretary the Lucas State office building in Des Moines. In the fall of 1958 she enrolled at Iowa Wesleyan College (IWC) in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
At IWC she was active in Independent Women and Alpha Theta, (a group interested Christian vocations) and the College Fellowship Group at First United Methodist Church. She also became a part-time secretary in the church office. She also sang in the church choir as well as the College Choir. Linda graduated in the class of 1962 with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education. Following college graduation she enrolled in Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois where she graduated with a Master’s degree in Christian Education in 1964.
Linda was married to Dennis D. Nicholson August 29, 1965 at her home church, the Methodist church in Attica, Iowa. They had a honeymoon drive back to Boston via Itasca State Park, Canada and Niagara Falls in preparation for Dennis’s final year at Boston University School of Theology. While in Boston she was a curriculum consultant at the Cokesbury Bookstore. There, Linda obtained a temporary teaching job in the public school in the county seat city of Keosauqua for that year. She also became a den mother for the cub scouts in Douds, and taught a Sunday School class in the Douds church.
During their 55-year marriage they lived in the following Iowa cities in this order: Douds, Mt. Pleasant, Indianola, Van Meter, Northwood, Rock Rapids, and Indianola a 2nd time for retirement.
After 3 years in Douds they moved to Mt. Pleasant where their two sons were born. Dale was born in 1970 and Dennis L. was born in 1972. There she joined American Association of University Women (AAUW). She was President of a local AAUW chapter two different times.
During her first stay in Indianola, Linda had a part time job in Des Moines at the office of Citizens United for Responsible Energy (CURE). After they moved to Van Meter where that job continued and she added a second part-time job in the office of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club. Both offices were located in the Thoreau Center. At Northwood Linda became the part-time church office secretary. Both sons graduated from high school in Northwood.
After ten years at Northwood the couple moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa. There Linda was appointed as local pastor of two churches. Inwood and Doon, near the South Dakota border. She also took a preaching class at a seminary in Sioux Falls South Dakota. Dennis was Pastor at the Rock Rapids Church and they lived in Rock Rapids. Linda’s Pastoral appointment ended in 1998 and she became more active in the Northwood church.
In July of 1999 Linda returned to Indianola with Dennis at the time of his retirement from ministry. They became active in First United Methodist Church in Indianola. Linda was active in UMW and in its schools for Christian Missions everywhere she lived. In her second time in Indianola she served a term as President of the local UMW group, and later was elected President of the Iowa Conference of UMW; and also attended regional meetings and their national Assembly meetings Linda also joined the Auxiliary at the National Balloon Museum. Auxiliary members were the volunteer staff who welcomed visitors and operated the gift shop during Museum hours. Linda also led an occasional worship service at The Village retirement community in Indianola.
Linda loved to read and was always reading a book. One of her favorite activities was to be with her 5 grandchildren. She and Dennis liked to travel and most summers saw them on a trip. In their early years they enjoyed camping with a tent. Later is was in motels. Some her favorite places were Lake Itasca, Yosemite, San Francisco, the Redwoods, the ocean, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont, Cape Cod, Chicago, Canada, Rocky Mountains, Tetons, Yellowstone, and other places.
In July of 2015 Linda and Dennis sold their home in Indianola and purchased an apartment at The Village, a United Methodist related retirement complex in Indianola. They lived in the Aspen building, apartment 218. In December of 2017 she was diagnosed with Lewey Body Dementia was moved to The Willows memory unit of The Village. After moving to The Willows, her activities were diminished, but she attended various activities in The Village as long as her health allowed. She passed away September 3, 2020 after a short time under The Village Hospice care.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother and sister. She is survived by her husband, 2 sons, Dale (Norene) and Dennis L. (Teresa), by 5 grandchildren and one great granddaughter, and several nieces and nephews.
A family memorial service will be live streamed beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 12, 2020, on Linda’s obituary page of the funeral home website. Replay available later as well.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Indianola or The Good Shepherd Fund at The Village, Indianola, IA. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/