Linda Kay Hodgen

Linda Kay Hodgen was born June 6, 1950 in Everett, WA. Her parents, Clare and Ginger Delaney, moved to Wenatchee, WA where she spent most of her childhood.  She graduated from Eastmont High School in 1968 with a full scholarship.  She enrolled at Wenatchee Valley College to pursue a degree in teaching. She was listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. In April 1969, she met a recruiter for a summer Study in Mexico program from Eastern Oregon University. She spent two months in the Central Highlands of Mexico studying Spanish and Latin American Civilization and volunteering in a Catholic orphanage. At the end of the program, she returned home with amazing experiences and a new fiancé – the recruiter, Robert Hodgen. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in September, and they were married in Wenatchee, Washington on December 27 ^th , 1969. They were sealed in the Salt Lake temple on January 13, 1971. She returned to Mexico one more summer and then they began their family.

• Matt was born in February 1971.
• Jennifer was born in September 1972.
• Elizabeth was born in August 1973.
• Jeff was born in March 1976
• Steven was born in April 1978
• David was born in June 1980.
• Emily was born in December 1987

Linda served in numerous callings in the church including twenty-three years in primary. She served with her husband as an Addiction Recovery Missionary and served as a ministering sister her entire adult life. She served in numerous positions in Relief Society, including Relief Society President, Compassionate Service Leader, and for several years, Self-Reliance Specialist.

After most of her children had grown, she moved to Rexburg, Idaho to complete her education. She graduated from Brigham Young University Idaho in 2004 with a degree in Family and Consumer Science with a teaching certification in Secondary Education. She missed being the oldest graduate in her class by a few hours. She taught in Rigby, Idaho Falls, and briefly at BYUI. She also worked with developmentally disabled children at Madison High School for a number of years.

Mom received her Certified Master Food Preserver from Washington State University and her Master Gardener from The University of Idaho. She volunteered extensively with Cooperative Extension in Washington and Idaho. She studied amateur (HAM) radio and succeeded in earning the highest FCC license class. She volunteered with her husband in church emergency communications and civil emergency communications.

She was devoted to her children and grandchildren and dedicated most of her life energy to supporting them and encouraging them in their pursuits. Their pictures are the centerpiece of her living room wall. She never let birthdays and anniversaries of any family member pass without a phone call or written special greeting with a special focus on her twenty-three grandchildren. She received numerous scouting awards including four Eagle Scout awards.

Her favorite art medium was her bread baking. It was her love language. She tried hundreds of recipes and adopted some, discarded some, and perfected the rest. She loved grinding her wheat and adding wholesome ingredients. There are very few residents of the Grant area that have not been given a loaf of her delicious bread.

Mom had her favorites and her opinions, but she was always kind to everyone. For her, there was no class distinction and if someone had needs, she was always willing to share the best she had to offer. She is survived by her husband, Bob, and her seven children and twenty-three grandchildren, her brothers Bill Delaney and Jim Ward, sisters Rhea Blankenship and Sue Sinclair. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Dan Delaney.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the Central Cemetery at Grant, Idaho.