Linda (Richards) Saunders

Linda Saunders, age 63, of Willmar, passed away on Friday, December 6, 2024, at her home. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 14th, at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar and will be streamed on the church's YouTube page. Visitation will be on Friday, December 13th from 4:00-7:00 pm at Willmar United Methodist Church.   Nursery care will be available during the service at the church.

Linda was born on May 17, 1961, in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota, to Jim and Carol Richards. She grew up in Buffalo Lake, where she was a three sport, award winning athlete who paved the way for female athletes after Title IX was passed. She attended Mankato State where she ran college track and studied to be an English teacher. 

On July 30, 1983, Linda married the love of her life, Jon Saunders, of Bird Island. The couple had three children: Lindsey, Ben, and Alec, and they raised their family for most of their lives in Willmar. 

Linda was a much loved English teacher at Willmar Senior High School. Over the course of  a 35 year teaching career, she taught thousands of children and fostered a love for reading, writing, and learning, with her infinite energy. Linda lived out her faith by playing flute and piano and leading choir and Sunday School at the United Methodist and Vinje Lutheran Churches in Willmar. She had an endless passion for life: she was an avid reader, a photo collector, a baker, a walker, and a lover of nature. 

Above all, Linda loved people. Nothing gave her more joy than her family. She loved to spend as much time as possible with her husband, children, and six grandchildren. She was silly and fun, loving to swim at her lake cabin and pool with her grandkids, play charades, and go on adventures. 

Linda is survived by her husband, Jon; her children: Lindsey (AJ) Meyer of St. Louis Park, Ben (Kendra) Saunders of Willmar, and Alec (Emily) Saunders of Willmar; six grandchildren: Marion, Nora, Hannah, William, James, and Meredith; three siblings: Mike (Michelle) Richards, Cathy (Ken) Wallace, and Karen (Tim) Carpenter. 

She is preceded in death by her parents: Jim and Carol Richards, her in-laws, Pat and Frank Saunders, her brothers-in-law, Jim Saunders and Tom Saunders, and her infant brother, Craig Richards. 

In lieu of flowers, Linda’s family plans to start a scholarship fund for Willmar Senior High School students in her honor. Donations can be made to the Willmar Civic Scholarship Association.

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