Aug. 4, 2023
Robert Byron Linder, 90, passed away Aug. 4 at Heritage Cottages under the care of Heritage Cottage staff and St. Joseph Hospice. Per his request, graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7 at Bethel Cemetery, rural Park Rapids.
Robert “Bob” was born in Hutchinson on Oct. 29, 1932 to Leslie Byron Linder and Dorothy Froeming. He grew up in Hutchinson, graduated high school and entered the Army around age 20. He was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He was lucky enough to know how to type, so he typed up orders. After the Army he went to college at Gustavus in St. Peter. Here he met his wife, Mary Louise. They wed in 1956.
After Mary graduated, Bob continued his education for several years while she taught school. Once Bob graduated from college, both of them got teaching jobs in Plainfield, Iowa. When their first child was born, Mary became a stay-at-home mom while Bob continued to teach. Bob taught in Northfield, Hutchinson and Jamestown College in North Dakota. He went to summer school in various mid-western states throughout his teaching career and got a master's degree in education. Once that was obtained, he went to Marshalltown, Los Angeles for two years and worked in the new field of special education. He then became the director of special education in both Walsh and rural Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Bob retired in 1992 and moved to Park Rapids. Bob, his brother Jack and dad used to camp at Itasca State Park and from a very young age decided he wanted to live around there some day.
He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, was involved in Stephen Ministry and the Living at Home organization.
He is survived by his daughter, Rachel (Steve) Fisher of Park Rapids; three brothers, Mark Linder of Palm Harbor, Florida, Paul (Cynde) Linder of Merrifield, and Rick (Vicki) Linder of Hutchinson.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Froemming, when he was six years old; his father, Leslie Byron Linder; his step-mother, Mary Grevich Linder; brothers, Tom Linder and Jack Linder; his wife, Mary Louise Linder; and son Clark Linder.
