3-24-2009

Linda Farber Magnuson died from a fall causing a brain aneurism.  She was cremated and buried in San Diego with her mother, Murryl Stubbs-Farber-Hudson, and brother Eddie Farber.

Linda Farber Magnuson, born in Marshalltown, Dec.23, 1941, MHS class of 1960, died March 24, 2009.  She is survived by her husband and partner of 31 years, Bill Magnuson of League City, Texas and her 3 children, Deborah St. John of San Diego, CA., Philip St. John of Sebastian, FL, and Mark St. John, of Topeka, KS. 

Linda suffered her first stroke in 1991 that left her paralyzed on the left side but fought back through hard work and intensive therapy to live a happy and rewarding life.  Because of the left side paralysis and weakness she was forced to have a hip replacement in 2007 and a knee replacement in 2007 and a knee replacement in 2008.  Though she worked hard at therapy she was struggling to gain back the mobility that she worked so hard to generate following the 1991 stroke.

She met her husband, Bill, while living in San Diego in the late 1970's, and later Bill's career took them to Dallas, TX; Lafayette, IN; Topeka, KS; Kansas City, KS; and they have been in League City, near Galvaston, TX for the last 10 years.

Despite her mobility difficulties she continued to fight to recover and her husband remained a loving caregiver.  She was very active in women's right and disability issues and served the last several years as the treasurer for the TX National Organization for Women.  She made many trips to Washington D.C. to participate in events related to women's issues. 

She never got down or negative about her condition and continued to work hard to regain her mobility.  She was always a happy, wonderful wife, mother, and person and will be much missed.  The quote that was in the March MHS class newsletter, "And in the end it's not the years in your life that count - It's the life in your years," was very timely and a perfect reflection on her life.

She always loved Marshalltown and brought her husband there several times to experience Maid Rite's and see the beautiful farm country around Green Mountain where she had lived on her grandparent's farm as a child.

She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1984 with a Bachelors Degree in psychology from the University of TX at Dallas.  Linda and Bill were able to enjoy the excitement of traveling extensively every year including trips to Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean and many places in the states.  Following her first stroke she discovered that she could use a computer even though she had the use of only her right hand and while doing volunteer work at a hospital teamed up with some friends to create baby memory books that were geared toward special needs baby's and children.

For a look at her work go to www.heartfeltpress.net

 Linda & Bill Magnuson in Cabo - 2008

Linda's son Mark St. John & his family