Our dear Linda (Nana) passed away Feb. 4, 2016 of complications from Crohn's disease at the L.D.S. Hospital in Salt Lake City. She began mortal life on November 25, 1938 in Bingham Canyon, Utah. Linda attended school in Midvale and graduated from Jordan High School in 1957. She attended the University of Utah before marrying her high school sweetheart Keith Stepan on December 20, 1961 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were married while Keith was home on leave from the army and they had to cut short their honeymoon so Keith could return to Ft. Leonardwood to resume active duty with the Utah National Guard. Linda went with him to Missouri and spent the next ten months as a young army wife. Following their military service they moved to Rose Park in 1962 to continue school at the U. of U.
Linda raised two special sons, Frank and Chris and all of the large neighborhood's children as well. She was certainly the village's mother. She was her boy's greatest mom, teacher, coach and loving supporter. Her grandchildren are the stars in her crown, Jonathan, Chandler, Grant, Marcus and special girl Lexi; my how she loved each one. They and she are precious. As a member of the L.D.S. Church, she served in her ward and stake as a Relief Society teacher and in the Young Women's and Primary organizations for most of the fifty five years she lived in Rose Park. Children cherished her, teens felt that she was amazing, church sisters love her deeply. She loved them all and made each one feel that they were her best friend upon their first meeting.
She especially loved serving in the Salt Lake Temple as an ordinance worker and was heartbroken when her health kept her from spending time in those sacred halls. Each Sunday was spent in her home with all of her family. Her Sunday dinners were wonderful. It was her way of keeping her extended family close and united together, preparing those dinners were a special way of expressing her love for them. Her home was her sanctuary. Her parents, Louis E. Ballamis and Gladys Pederson as well as her seven siblings preceded her in death.She is survived by her husband, sons Frank (Joylynn) and Chris (Camille, deceased), and five grandchildren.Although she was the baby in her family she always felt responsible for all of them feeling that she was in charge of each one. Linda and Keith have loved each other since high school and after 54 years of marriage it is hard to let a beautiful, faithful eternal companion go for a while. But they will meet again in Paradise and their love will continue to flourish throughout all eternity.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 10th , 12 noon, in the Rose Park Stake Center, 760 No. 1200 W. where friends may call Tuesday evening from 6-8 pm and Wednesday from 10:45-11:45 am prior to services. Interment: Larkin Sunset Gardens.
