Linda Brown

Linda Kaye Brown, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend lost her battle with cancer on July 30, 2017, at the home of her daughter surrounded by her family. She was under the care of OneSource Home Health and Hospice. Linda was born March 21,1961, to Neil Christopherson and LaRue Banks in Fillmore Utah, the second of four daughters. Her family lived in Utah and Southeast Idaho, she attended schools from Idaho Falls, Idaho to Kerns, Utah and many places in between. Being fiercely independent from birth, Linda left school at the age of 15. She then found a job working as a car hop at the local A&W. The owners found out that she was not of age when she celebrated her 16th birthday, but she was already a valued employee and she was kept on. It was at A&W that she met Michael Brown, the man that she would build her life with, at the age of 17. Linda and Michael made their home together in Idaho Falls. At that time Idaho recognized Common Law marriage and the couple was officially considered married on April 1, 1979. April Fool's Day could not have been a more fitting date and became the subject of running jokes for years to come. Their home did not stay empty for long and they welcomed their first child, a daughter Jamie, on June 3,1981. They then welcomed another daughter, Lindsey, on August 8, 1983. Finally, a son, Steven, burst into the world on August 2, 1984. Each of the children was unique and Linda wanted to make sure that each child stayed that way. Linda spent many sleepless nights sewing new clothes, Halloween costumes, and winter coats for her children. She would attend school functions, class parties, and field trips whenever possible, and always showed support and love for her children as they grew. Linda continued to work several local jobs and in 1990 decided that it was time to make something better of herself. She proudly walked across the stage to receive her High School Equivalency diploma in May of 1991. She was then accepted into a new and competitive associates program at Eastern Idaho Technical College. She again walked across the stage in May 1993 to receive her Associates Degree in Hazardous Materials Management. On April 1, 1995, the family took a trip to Elko, NV where Linda and Michael were legally married. The three children were listed as the witnesses to their parent's marriage. After she graduated, she was hired to be the safety coordinator for Ormond Construction based in Idaho Falls. While working for Ormond, she oversaw the safety of jobs from Ogden to Ashton. While overseeing the construction of the new fire station at the INL, she made contacts at NRF. She was hired in a temporary position and then a full-time fuel handler at NRF. Linda was one of a handful of women to ever hold that position. While at NRF she was instrumental in organizing the Nuclear Workers of the facility. Through that trial she taught her children the importance of knowing your self-worth. Linda was a Nuclear Worker at NRF at the time of her death. After the children had grown and started families of their own, Linda continued the love and dedication that she had shown to her own children to her grandchildren. She was present for the birth of every grandchild. She started early building memories with her grandchildren and as they entered school, was involved as she could be. Linda made it a point to spend individual time with each of them. She often said that being a grandma was the greatest thing in the world. Linda was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Idaho Falls. Linda is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, Michael Brown; daughter Jamie (John) Gibson; daughter Lindsey (Ben King) Brown; son Steven Brown all of Idaho Falls; mother LaRue Banks of Idaho Falls; sisters Sherrie Reeves of Idaho Falls, Tina (Alex) Erickson of Ankeny, IA, Cindy (Gene) Jacquez of Mesa, AZ, and Jody Pratt of Woodscross, UT; 10 grandchildren and many others she opened her heart for that called her mom and grandma. The is preceded in death by her father; step-father, Jack Banks and brother-in-law, Scott Reeves. A Celebration of Life is planned for a future date.

Memorial Services will be held