Linda Berdine Ruhnke

Linda B. Ruhnke died on November 10, 2024, in her apartment at Eagle Crest South in La Crosse, WI. She was born on July 7, 1936, to Winifred (Vanderwilt) and Milton Ruhnke at the county hospital in McPherson, Kansas. When Linda was only nine months old, her mother died of tuberculosis. When Linda was three, Milton married Maude Schmutz Gugler, and Linda gained both a mother and an older sister, Wanda Jean. The newly blended family moved to a farm near Lyons Creek in Geary County, Kansas, where Linda and Wanda learned, played, worked, squabbled, laughed, and bonded as sisters. Linda’s first eight grades of schooling were in the one-room rural Rubin schoolhouse. She graduated from Chapman, Kansas High School and then from Emporia State University with a degree in business. Her business employment included working for Farm Bureau Insurance in Manhattan and the Associated General Contractors of Kansas in Topeka.

Linda later returned to Emporia State University to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Education, and then became a kindergarten teacher. She taught for 26 years at Sheridan School in Junction City and Ware School in Ft. Riley. 

She was a kind, caring, innovative, and disciplined teacher of kindergartners, and there is no doubt she profoundly influenced several generations of young people. If you ever went out with Linda in public, you were bound to meet someone excitedly coming up to her and fondly declaring that they had been one of her kindergarteners! After Linda retired from teaching, she explored several passions including playing piano at the Junction City Country Club, learning to paint, collecting angel figurines, volunteering at Dorothy Bramlage Public Library, and enjoying travel and social time with her girlfriends. Linda was a life-time member of Lyona United Methodist church in rural Junction City, KS, and she also attended Faith Lutheran church in Junction City.

Linda lived in Junction City, KS, most of her adult life, before moving to Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan, KS. Then in 2020, she moved to Eagle Crest South in La Crosse, WI, to be closer to Wanda and other family. Linda was preceded in death by her father, Milton, her mother, Maude, and her brother-in-law, Harold Swanson. She is survived by her sister, Wanda Swanson; her nieces Kristin Swanson (Alan Hecht) and Celia Swanson, and nephew Mark Swanson (Nancy Schoenberg); five great-nieces and nephews: Nathan Hecht, David Hecht (Abby Sterling), Karin Hecht, Rachel Hardebeck (Emerson), Ben Swanson; two great-greats: Orren Hecht and Madrona Hardebeck; cousin Judith 

Gooch (Jay) and their daughter Heather Hovis, and many friends, most notably Janet Hosler and Helen Minnick. At Linda’s request, there will be no service. 

The family wishes to express profound appreciation to the staff of High Acuity Assisted Living at Eagle Crest South. She was a proud supporter of Saint Jude Children’s Hospital, feeling empathy for these children, since she herself had experienced many hospital trials, due to a congenital mobility issue. Donations can be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Eagle Crest Communities Education fund (PO BOX 2468, La Crosse, WI 54602)