Linda Nebeker Erickson

On September 9th, 2024, Linda Nebeker Erickson (61), our beloved mother, wife, daughter, sister, teacher and friend passed away following five years of ovarian cancer treatment. She was sincerely admired and held dear by all who knew her.

Linda was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ann Alice Smith and Richard Hulme Nebeker, into a remarkable legacy of stalwart faith. The youngest of nine children, she thrived as a tag-along hiker and skier, spending much of her childhood in the Wasatch Mountains and working beside her mother, father and siblings at their family ranch in North Eden, Bear Lake. Linda is described by her sisters as a strong-willed, determined and confident child. Spunky and notoriously tidy, she was the glue that held their large, lively family together.

After graduating from East High, Linda attended the University of Utah, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Education. She spent two summers traveling in Nantucket and Alaska, experiences that further nurtured her spirit of adventure and learning.

In 1983, Linda met Leif Erickson through a blind date arranged by her sister Catherine, an orchestration that our family is endlessly grateful for. Their connection was immediate, with early courtship often spent talking on city cemetery benches well into the early morning hours. On September 2nd, Leif and Linda were sealed for time & all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Their marriage has been a true union of divine strengths, founded on their shared devotion to Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.

Over the ten years following their wedding, Linda gave birth to four children, nurturing and nourishing their bodies, minds, and spirits with profound purpose of heart. Their lives led them to treasured years of residency in Texas (1990-1994) and Massachusetts (1987-1990,1998-2012), where Linda enthusiastically sought to take advantage of everything her surroundings offered. This passion for enrichment, combined with her unceasing service in ward, stake and temple callings, provided a meaningful backdrop for cherished family memories and vibrant community relationships.

Shortly after returning to their home state of Utah in 2012, Leif and Linda were called to serve as mission leaders in the Zambia Lusaka Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They lived and served alongside the people of Zambia and Malawi from 2013 to 2016, creating rich and tender relationships with their beloved missionaries that continue to this day. Several months after returning home from Africa, Linda and Leif were called to direct the Los Angeles Temple Visitors Center, where they served from 2017 to 2019.

In the fall of 2019, Linda received a cancer diagnosis that she courageously accepted and diligently fought for the next five years; a journey marked by optimism, hope, and most of all, unwavering, divine faith in Jesus Christ and His plan for her. She did not stop living. During these years, she continued hiking, skiing, traveling, and intentionally pursuing her own personal development. She poured herself into old and new passions, becoming a certified yoga instructor, managing her family's beloved properties at Bear Lake and Alta, teaching the stake mission preparation course with Leif, and dedicating herself to her book club, scripture group and writing class. Most joyous to her, she loved being Grandma.

Through her final moments on earth, Linda steadfastly lived by two divine principles endowed through her birthdate and blood type: March Forth (4th) and Be Positive (B+). Her life, relationships and impact are distinguished by this bright outlook, enduring hope, and sincere love for God and all people. With the sting of death comes our wholehearted confidence of heavenly reunion and her continued presence in our lives, made possible by our Savior Jesus Christ. For this and Him, we are eternally grateful.

Linda leaves her husband of 41 years, Leif; her four children, James, Lindsay, Emma (Trenton) and Catherine (Herch); older siblings, Margaret Ann, Susan, sister in-law Liz, Michael (Nancy), Bill (Charlotte), Charlotte (George) and Catherine (CF); eight beautiful grandchildren, Gordon, River, Cecret, Avril, Van, Olson, Rosie, Sal, and one baby boy coming in October; as well as many other cherished family members and friends.

She is preceded in death and welcomed home by her parents, Richard and Ann Nebeker, two siblings, Elizabeth and Richard, brother in-law, David, and son in-law, John.

A public viewing will take place at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, on Sunday, September 15th from 6 to 8 pm. The following day, Monday, September 16th from 11 am to 12 pm, a funeral service and celebration of Linda’s life will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 14919 Eagle Crest Drive, Draper, Utah, with an additional viewing taking place immediately prior to the funeral from 9 to 10:30 am. A private graveside service for family and close friends will be held the following day.

To watch the recorded service, please click on the Watch Service button above.

The Erickson family wishes to express deep gratitude to Dr. Theresa Werner and her team at Huntsman Cancer Institute for the excellent care and friendship they have offered Linda over the past five years. They also wish to express profound love and thanks to all those who have poured out their sincere love for Linda and given heartfelt condolences, as well as to those who have thoughtfully provided meals, sent flowers and helped in any way during this time.