Linda Loraine Klassen

Linda Loraine Klassen (née Bergen), 88, of Nanaimo, BC, passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 29, 2025. She was born to Helena and Henry Bergen on June 30, 1937, in Plum Coulee, MB, and the eldest child of four. She will be greatly missed by her children Ken (Diana) Klassen; Barry (Myanna) Klassen; her grandchildren Karman (Jeremy Brush) Klassen, Kirk Klassen, Alissa (Brandon) Christiansen, and Kimberly Klassen; and her great-grandchildren Sawyer, Braxton, Max, and Quinn. She was predeceased by her parents; daughter Roxanne Klassen; great-granddaughter Anna Christensen; her brother Dave Bergen; and husband Phil.

Linda married her beloved husband, Phil Klassen, in Morden, MB, after meeting at a boat regatta in 1953. After four years of long distance courtship, they wed on May 18, 1955. Shortly after their marriage, Linda relocated to Edmonton, AB, where she and Phil raised three children, sharing nearly 57 years of marriage before Phil’s passing in 2014. Although life was not without its challenges over the years, they built a wonderful life centered upon family and community.

Linda worked as a bank teller and later in the print shop at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology until she retired in 1994. She found tremendous joy in gardening, quilting, embroidery, and crochet, and shared her gifts through countless volunteer hours. Whether she was making comfort quilts for the Stollery Children’s Hospital, providing free babysitting for young mothers in need, or volunteering at the West Edmonton Senior’s Centre, Linda gave freely of her time and talents.

In 2018, Linda moved to Nanaimo, BC to be closer to family and lived the remainder of her years at a senior's community in the city's north end. Although she often missed life in Alberta, particularly on those rainy Vancouver Island winter days, she was happy to be near family after years of living provinces apart.

Linda is lovingly remembered by her surviving children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; sisters MaryAnn (Pete) Sawatzky and Kathy (Dick) Neudorf; sister-in-law’s Betty Bergen and Margaret Klassen; and numerous other relatives and friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held at the Wiebe Funeral Home in Morden, MB on Sunday, October 5th. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.