Linda Marie Isaacs

Linda Marie Isaacs entered eternal rest on February 11, 2021. Linda, the daughter of Henry and Olive Halverson, was born in Montevideo, Minnesota on January 18, 1933. Her parents owned a series of country stores in southwestern Minnesota. After living with her family in various small towns, Linda graduated from Clarkfield (Minnesota) High School in 1950. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota before transferring into the nursing program at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Later in her career, after working as a Registered Nurse, Linda earned a bachelor’s degree from Loretto Heights College in Denver, Colorado. She went on to become one of the first certified infection control nurses in the country.

Linda married Elwood (Ike) M. Isaacs at the Hazel Run Lutheran Church on April 24, 1954. During their long marriage of 67 years, Linda was an outstanding partner in her husband Elwood’s distinguished career with Phillips Petroleum Company. During this career Elwood—and Linda—were transferred by the company from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Reisterstown, Maryland; Hackettstown, New Jersey; West Springfield, Massachusetts; Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Denver, Colorado; and Kansas City, Kansas. After being transferred once again back to Bartlesville, the couple enjoyed living there for 25 years until relocating to Norman, Oklahoma in 2007.

Linda was an active, lifelong Lutheran Christian. At various times, she sang in the choir, served as secretary, council member, Sunday school teacher, and was an active member of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELCA). Linda was a gifted piano player, passing on her love of music to her daughter. She was an excellent seamstress, creating keepsakes for each family member. She even made her own wedding dress! She was active in community activities including Camp Fire

Girls, Boy Scouts, PTA, and Beta Sigma Phi. In her later years, she was a member of the Red Hat Society, the Cleveland County Extension Homemakers, book club, and she served as a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

Linda enjoyed traveling with her husband. She had the privilege of visiting Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany (including the Passion Play in Oberammergau in 2010). Linda and Elwood also enjoyed a fascinating cruise through the Panama Canal.

In addition to her husband Elwood M. Isaacs, Linda is survived by her sister Ruth Gjermundson of Belview, Minnesota; her son Mark D. Isaacs and his wife Linda of Rhinebeck, New York; their three daughters and their husbands: Dr. Tyler and Haley Pritchard of Ridgefield, Washington; Justin and Jenna Seeley of Red Hook, New York; and Christopher and Jennifer Tilson of Somers, New York; her daughter, Mary and husband Captain Russell Rhea, SC, USN (ret) and their son Michael and wife Lindsey Rhea of Edmond, Oklahoma and their daughter Kirsten Rhea and her fiancé, Brandon Richardson of Norman, Oklahoma.

In addition, Linda was the proud great-grandmother of eight great-grandchildren: Mark, Addie, and Bennett Seeley of Red Hook, New York; Corbin, Brecken, and Anders Pritchard of Ridgefield, Washington; Caroline Tilson of Somers, New York; and Harper Rhea of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents and daughter, Margaret Elise Isaacs, who died at age 14 months.

A memorial service will be held Friday, February 19, 2021, at 2:00 PM at University Lutheran Church in Norman, Oklahoma. Internment will take place this summer at the Hazel Run Lutheran Cemetery in Hazel Run, Minnesota. At that time, her son, the Rev. Dr. Mark D. Isaacs of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Wurtemburg in Rhinebeck, New York, will conduct a graveside Committal Service.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family members are encouraged to make a donation in her name to the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma (mcfok.org) or University Lutheran Church in Norman.

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR LINDA ISAACS: The funeral service for Linda Isaacs will be held on Friday, February 19th at 2:00 p.m. Everyone in our church family is very important to us and we want you all to be able to be part of Linda's funeral and memorial, therefore, we will also live stream the service. The link for all University Lutheran Church Services may be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt7MLPTrDZNzBuFbi8DapKA.