Linda Kohler, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully in her home in Gold Canyon, AZ surrounded by family under Hospice care on July 16, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, compassion, resilience, and unwavering devotion to her family. A Prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM Wednesday, August 12th at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Valley City. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday evening. Inurnment will be in St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery in Oriska, ND. A livestream on Linda’s service and an online guestbook will be available at www.lerudmathias.com. Traditions Funeral Services of Valley City has been entrusted with Linda’s funeral arrangements. 

Linda was born at Mercy Hospital in Valley City, North Dakota, to Randy and Kathy Hanson on August 15,1952. She was the third of four children. She spent her early years living in Kathryn, ND. In high school, Linda was a cheerleader and track athlete. In the summer of 1968, she met her high school sweetheart, Ron Kohler. Their love story continued through the years, and the two were married in 1973. While attending Mary College in Bismarck, Linda remained active as a cheerleader and was a dedicated member of SPURS, a Catholic student service organization. She graduated in 1974 with a four-year degree in nursing. That same summer, Ron and Linda moved to Rolette, North Dakota, where they began their married life, careers, and family. Their daughter, Danielle Lynn, was born in 1974. After a year in Rolette, they returned closer to their hometowns and began their life on the farm. Their family continued to grow with the births of Alison Dawn in 1976 and Ross Hanson in 1981. Linda lived a life full of creativity and adventure. She enjoyed wheat weaving, punch tins, antiquing, homemakers club, teaching CCD, hiking in the Superstition Mountains, biking the Heartland Trail, skiing at Big Sky with friends and family, boating and slalom skiing, cooking Chinese food, sewing, quilting, gardening, canning (jarring) pickles, and traveling. It was often joked that one of her most prized possessions was her stack of heavily earmarked Travel & Leisure magazines-a fitting reflection of her love of adventure and her desire to see and experience the world. In 1987, when her children were all in school, Linda returned to the workforce and spent more than 20 years working at Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City as a registered nurse. Throughout her life, she was known for her strength, kindness, compassion, and dedication to others.In her later years, one of Linda’s most cherished roles was being a grandmother to her six grandchildren. Her grandchildren will forever remember wearing Grandma Linda’s swimsuits in the hot tub on the farm that they overflowed with bubbles, going on John Deere Gator rides with her at the farm, and her never-ending birthday cakes. These memories, along with countless others, will remain treasured reminders of the love and joy she brought to their lives. 

Linda is survived by her devoted and loving husband, Ron; her children, Danielle (Josh) Differding, Alison Kohler (Andy Torpen), and Ross Kohler; her grandchildren, Kendra, Brynley, Bryar, and Kade Differding, and Avery and Riggins Kohler; her sister, Candis (Duane) Hoffmeyer; her sister-in-law, Susan Hanson; and four nieces. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Steven Hanson and Kenneth Hanson. Linda’s love, strength, and kindness shaped the lives of all who knew her. She leaves behind a legacy of compassion, resilience, and unwavering devotion to her family. Though she will be deeply missed, her love will continue to guide those she leaves behind, and her memory will remain forever in their hearts. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Linda’s honor to Team Fox for Parkinson’s Research at www.give.michaeljfox.org.