Linda Jean (Malterud) Brooks

Linda Brooks, 78, of Wyoming, MN formerly of Bemidji, MN died Sunday, August 11, 2019 at the Ebenezer Meadows Assisted Living, Wyoming.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 16, 2019 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Bemidji with Pastor Mark Kindem officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Fern Township Cemetery, Becida. Arrangements were entrusted to the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bemidji.

Linda Jean Malterud Brooks was born February 16, 1941 to Ingvald and Florence Malterud of Becida, MN. She left this world on Aug 11, 2019.

Linda was in the middle of 12 children living a farm life. She, her siblings and cousins attended a one room school called the “Malterud” school until high school age. She graduated from Bemidji High school and went to work as a secretary for a few years until starting in the Placement office at BSU.  While still in her teens she was introduced to Gerald Brooks. After he returned from a tour in the service they were married in April of 1960 and bought a farm in the Grace Lake area east of Bemidji, where they welcomed Arlie into the family in 1964.   In 1967 they moved to a home they built in Grant Valley Township where they welcomed Allen into the family.  They would reside there until Jerry’s passing in 2013. Since then Linda has lived in the Twin Cities with or near her daughter Arlie.

She worked at BSU for 30+ years, retiring in 1999.  Linda raised beautiful gardens of vegetables and flowers.  Linda weekly baked bread and always had fresh baked goods to share or donate. After retiring Linda was active with the Bemidji Community Meals program and helping kids with their reading at J.W. Smith Elementary School.   For a few years in her retirement she shared her love of gardening with the world managing her own “Linda’s Green House.”   In their later years, Jerry and Linda enjoyed frequent card games at the Eagles and the Senior Center.  She was a long time member of Bethel Lutheran Church where you could often find her quilting or helping in the kitchen.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers: Donald, Frank, Richard, and Kenneth; one sister Donna Egtvet and her husband Gerald Brooks.

Linda is survived by her daughter Arlie Post, Forest Lake, MN: son Allen (Tamara) Brooks, Twin Valley, MN; six grandchildren Brienna (Mark) Duax, Wendy (Brett) Holdt, Jeromy Post, Hanna Post, Jacob (Savannah) Brooks and Kaia Brooks; Four great grandchildren; her sister Patricia (Doug) Tangborn, Laporte, MN; brothers Jim (Jeanette) Bemidji,  Robert (Judy), Northome, MN, Daniel (Joyce), Eveleth, MN; Bruce (Rosemary), Bemidji, and Lee “Butch” (Cheryl), Bemidji as well as many nieces and nephews.

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