Linda LaVern Hardgrove

Born in Atlantic City, NJ, to LaVern and Lucille Spreier, she and her family returned to western Kansas after WWII, first to Hays and then Jetmore, where her father worked as the county’s first soil conservationist.

A 1962 graduate of Jetmore High School, Linda attended Fort Hays State College, where she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and graduated in 1966. While in college, she met her future husband, Dean Hardgrove, whom she married in 1964.

After college, the family, which soon included two daughters, Dawn and Heather, followed Dean’s long career as a telecommunications executive, first in Dodge City, KS; then Lincoln, NE; Las Vegas, NV; back to Lincoln and finally to Overland Park, KS. They retired to Estes Park, CO, where they lived for 15 years, before moving to The Villages in Florida. After three years they moved to Windsor, CO.

Although quiet and self-effacing, Linda was of strong faith and leaned into that faith throughout her lifetime. From her first role as her church’s Christian education coordinator, she went on to serve in various volunteer roles, including speaking to women’s Bible study groups throughout the Midwest. She was also active in the Estes Park Community Bible Study until her death.

Linda also expressed her faith through her art as a painter. Her many exquisite landscapes – most of which she was too unassuming to sell – capture, through color and style, the beauty and grandeur of creation.

In addition to her husband Dean, Linda is survived by their daughter Heather, of Windsor; three grandsons, Matthew Thornton (Christy) and three great grandchildren of Humboldt, KS; and Jacob Thornton and Walker Thornton of Chanute, KS; her brother Scott Spreier (Jeanne) of Dallas, a niece and two nephews; and her brother-in-law, Dale Hardgrove (Linda K.) of The Villages, FL.

She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter, Dawn.

The service will be held at Allenspark Community Church on March 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM, Pastor Matthew Graham officiating. Internment will be at a later date in Jetmore, Kansas. The family requests that those attending the service wear bright colors in recognition of Linda’s love of art, design and color.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Estes Park Community Bible Study, Checks can be mailed to CBS c/o Mountain View Bible Fellowship, 1575 S St Vrain, Estes Park, CO 80517.