Linda Meester, 72, Lester, Iowa, died Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, Iowa.
A funeral service was Monday, Aug. 26, at Bethel Reformed Church in Lester. Burial followed in the Hillside Cemetery at Lester.
Linda Sandholm was born March 9, 1947, to Franklyn and Esther (Stafford) Sandholm in Red Oak, Iowa. The family attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Linda was a junior member of VFW, a Girl Scout and was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. She graduated from junior high in Red Oak, Iowa.
In the fall of 1961 Linda and her family moved to Rock Rapids where she attended and graduated from Central Lyon High School. After graduation, Linda attended Beauty School in LeMars, Iowa. She and her twin sister then moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Linda worked in a beauty shop.
On April 22, 1967, Linda married her high school sweetheart, Harold Meester, who just returned from Vietnam. The first six months of their marriage was spent in El Toro, California, until Harold’s active duty in the Marine Corps was finished.
They moved back to Rock Rapids and attended the State Line Presbyterian Church. Linda worked in a beauty shop until they had their first son. She then became a stay-at-home mom for 25 years.
On March 9, 1972, the family moved to an acreage near Lester, Iowa. The family became members of the Bethel Reformed Church.
Linda was a Cub Scouts leader, a girls’ 4-H leader, Bible school teacher and director. She was also active in Lester Betterment Club, Legion Auxiliary, and was a member of Rock Rapids VFW Auxiliary.
In November of 1992 Linda began working for Dutchland Foods in Lester, where she was employed until her retirement in December of 2012.
Linda and Harold traveled to Europe and to Vietnam, as well as many places in the United States, with Branson, Missouri, being a favorite spot. They also went on several mission trips.
Linda is survived by her husband, Harold Meester; four children, Steve (Shelly) Meester of Inwood, Iowa, Mark (Nan) Meester of Sioux Falls, Donna (Stacen) Burgers of Hills, Leah (Lance) Boote of Lester; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a twin sister, Sandra (Paul) Wollmuth of Sheldon, Iowa; brothers Eldine (Marsha) Sandholm of Hartford, South Dakota, Jay (Cyndi) Sandholm of Sheldon; and a sister-in-law, Judy (Roger) Klaassen of Little Rock, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law Joe and Ruth Meester; nieces Beth Ann and Lisa Klaassen; and nephew Jon Sandholm.
Arrangements were provided by Jurrens Funeral Home, www.jurrensfh.com.
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