Linda Meester

Lester, IA

     Linda Meester age 72 of Lester, IA died Thursday, August 22, 2019 at Rock Rapids Health Centre.

     Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Monday, August 26, 2019 at Bethel Reformed Church in Lester, IA with Pastor Chris Godfredsen and Pastor Steve Meester officiating. Burial will follow in the Hillside Cemetery at Lester.

     Visitation will be Sunday, August 25^th from 4:00 to 8:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Bethel Reformed Church in Lester.

     In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorials directed to Lyon County ATLAS.

     Linda (Sandholm) Meester was born March 9, 1947 to Franklyn P. and Esther Jean (Stafford) Sandholm in Red Oak, Iowa. Linda and her family attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She 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. Linda, her twin sister, and two brothers became Central Lyon students. After graduation from high school, Linda attended Beauty School in LeMars, Iowa. She and her sister then moved to Sioux Falls, 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, Iowa 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, which was a great place to raise their four children. The family became members of the Bethel Reformed Church and are very involved in the activities of the church.

     Linda was a cub scout 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 started working for Dutchland Foods in Lester where she was employed for 20 years, 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.

     Most important in Linda’s life was her faith, her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She loved them all unconditionally.

     Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 52 years, Harold Meester; four children, Steve (Shelly) Meester of Inwood, IA, Mark (Nan) Meester of Sioux Falls, SD, Donna (Stacen) Burgers of Hills, MN, Leah (Lance) Boote of Lester, IA; 14 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; twin sister, Sandra (Paul) Wollmuth of Sheldon, IA; brothers, Eldine (Marsha) Sandholm of Hartford, SD, Jay (Cyndi) Sandholm of Sheldon, IA; and sister-in-law, Judy (Roger) Klaassen of Little Rock, IA.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, Franklyn and Jean Sandholm; parents-in-law, Joe and Ruth Meester; nieces, Beth Ann and Lisa Klaassen; and nephew, Jon Sandholm.

                                                                                   Blessed Be Her Memory.