Linda May Van Den Berge

Linda May Van Den Berge, age 66, passed away at her home surrounded by family on August 14, 2024, after a brief but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Linda was born in Grand Rapids on May 3, 1958, to Irving & Ellenor (Findor) Graves whom she loved and admired greatly.

Growing up, Linda developed a lifelong love for animals. She was known for her veterinarian-like knowledge of caring and healing for all animals in need. If she couldn’t do it, Linda would find someone to help. She saved animals such as baby geese crossing busy highways, a baby squirrel who fell out of a tree and numerous lost dogs and cats. She once even raised an abandoned baby racoon. Over the years, her pets included the typical household creatures like cats and dogs but she also owned horses and chickens, she cared deeply for them and always shared fond memories riding the horses through her parent’s field. Her most impressive animal was a little spider monkey named Monk.

On October 26, 1985, Linda was united in marriage to the love of her life, Doug Van Den Berge. She wore the most amazing dress and had the biggest hair and she looked stunning. Doug and Linda had a love that could move mountains. Their love continued to grow deeper every year over the past 38 years. It helped them overcome hard times and helped them cherish the good times even more. They traveled together as much as they could, and visited places like the Bahamas, Hawaii, Italy, Ireland and France. They shared so many fond memories of their travels, most of them funny stories that had them laughing every time they looked back at them. Doug and Linda accomplished so much in the life they shared, but their biggest accomplishments were raising their five beautiful children. One of Linda’s favorite parts of motherhood, was having the privilege of becoming a grandmother to her four greatly loved grandchildren. Being “Grammy” and “Mimi” to the little ones filled her heart with so much joy.

Linda was somewhat of an entrepreneur while she was growing her family. She started a small business selling paintings, one which still hangs in the family home. She was quite successful in this venture. She then decided to move into sales. She opened and operated her window business, River City Supply for many years, taking pride in her showroom and success. After her window business Linda, spent most of her career working as an X-Ray technician with the credentials she earned when she graduated from Grand Rapids Community College many years prior. As if she did not already have a lot on her plate as a working mother, she and Doug built houses together as well. One of these houses turned into their forever home where they raised their kids. Now their grandkids run the halls filling the house with so much laughter.

Not only was Linda a great mother and amazing business woman, she was also a talented artist. She enjoyed painting ceramics, creating stained glass and other crafting. She loved to garden and took great pride in her flowers, especially the ones that attracted the Hummingbirds. Linda loved watching the birds from her kitchen windows and had many bird feeders to draw them in. She loved shopping and gifting her family with random items she found on her shopping excursions and would never pass up a trip to Costco. Linda took great joy in decorating her home, and frequented places such as Pottery Barn and Kirklands. She loved shopping with her daughters and helping them turn their houses into well-decorated homes.

Linda is survived by her husband, Doug; her children: Jessica (Brian) Cieslik, Mikaela (Tyler) Keur, Austin (Karli Schweibert) Van Den Berge, Alyssa Van Den Berge and Selyna (Matt) Kuncaitis; her grandchildren: Jacob, James & Juliette Cieslik and Grayson Keur, and her siblings: Scott (Pam) Graves, Mary Johnson and Cathy (John) Rybski as well as many other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her brother Steve Graves and her parents.

Visitation will be held on Thursday August 22, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Reyers North Valley Chapel where a Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. Private inurnment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Memorial donations in memory of Linda may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.