Linda Kay Bosshardt Obituary (2025)

Linda Kay Bosshardt, young at heart, of Yakima, Washington and Polson, Montana, was born April 3, 1943, in Shenandoah, Iowa to her parents, Harlan and Thelma (Hutt) Brand. Linda spent her early years on the farm in the Midwest surrounded by family members and caring for a multitude of pet animals. Her family relocated west; first to Ridgeway, Colorado, where her mother had cousins and then to Southern California, where they settled in Upland, California. Linda had four beloved uncles on the Hutt side of the family, which were like brothers. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them and their families, which included numerous cousins. At the young age of 14, a friend invited her to a church youth group where she met the love of her life, Lowell. They dated through the remainder of her high school years, even though they attended different schools. Linda attended and graduated from Upland High School in 1960. The lovebirds, Lowell and Linda, were married in Pomona, California on June 9, 1962, and spent the summer honeymooning at the Bosshardt family cabin on Flathead Lake in Montana. They then moved north to Seattle, Washington, where Linda worked as a secretary at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington, while Lowell was in dental school. Linda shared her dream, with Lowell, of having four children, as she was raised as an only child. They started their family in 1966 with their oldest son, Eric. The family of three relocated to Gallup, New Mexico for a year with their team of three malamutes in tow. They thoroughly enjoyed their time there and immersed themselves in the Navajo and Hopi cultures, developing a life-long love of Native American art. Before relocating back to Seattle, Washington they welcomed their second child, Elisa, into their family. In June 1970, they moved to and settled in the outskirts of Yakima, Washington, where they continued to grow their family with the addition of Joel and then Dana, which completed Linda's dream of a large family. Needing more space, they moved their family closer to town and resided at their home on Snow Mass Lane for forty years. In 2004, Lowell and Linda retired, spending every summer and early fall at their home in Polson, Montana. This is where they created so many cherished memories for their family and friends. Linda created warm, welcoming homes and always enjoyed her time by the fireplace with a view of peacocks and the Yakima Valley or the Lake and Mission Mountains. She helped to instill a love of "The Last Best Place" in her children, grandchildren and friends. Linda was strong of character and as stoic as a soldier, while always remaining stylish with a wicked sense of humor. She was a lover of music, and it was common to hear anything from Glen Campbell, Elvis, Tina Turner, Andrea Bocelli or Yanni. Her favorite XM station was Watercolors, with Smooth Jazz the running joke. She enjoyed cooking, along with collecting and trying recipes, always adding her flair that was lovingly referred to by her family as "Jazz It Up with Linda". No one had more condiments than she did. She loved playing games with family and friends. Whether charades, pinochle, hearts or dominoes, she was competitive enough to make it interesting and fun. She was a generous soul, in both her time for others and monetary, especially when she became aware of the needs of others. She loved giving gifts to others, especially her children and grandchildren. She took great joy in her children and the grandchildren, who affectionately called her Gram Gram or GiGi. She was blessed with a great-grandson in October 2023. One of Linda's fondest memories was accompanying Lowell along with their two oldest children on a short-term medical mission to Haiti in 1980. This experience made an indelible impression on all of their lives. Linda was an active member of the West Valley Church and cherished her church family along with many close friends. Linda is a wonderful example of a life well-lived and will have been welcomed in heaven by the best greeting of all, "well done, good and faithful servant". Linda leaves her husband, Lowell and children, Eric (wife Shanna with children Mayia and Cooper); Elisa (with children Will, Emily and Chenoa); Joel (with partner Rachel); son-in-law, Jason (with children Alexa (partner Nate with child Sawyer), Caleb and Seth). Linda was preceded in death by her parents and her youngest daughter, Dana. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 3:00pm, at West Valley Church. In lieu of flowers please send any memorials to either the Union Gospel Mission or West Valley Church in care of Brookside Funeral Home. "Let Your Light Shine" Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.