Linda Charles Kay Berends

Linda Charles Kay Goodwin Berends was the first born to Charles Milburn Goodwin and Martha Catherine Fitch Goodwin on July 16, 1942 in Springfield, MO. Linda was always very proud to be named after her father. Family lore was that Linda was so small at birth that she was brought home in a shoebox. When Linda was 15, the family moved to Topeka, Kansas where Linda received her GED from Highland Park High School. Despite having dyslexia and difficulty reading, Linda had an exceptional mechanical ability and learned to rebuild a car’s engine. She remembers those teachers that encouraged her to pursue this talent with great fondness.
Linda was wedded to Kenneth Leroy Berends on May 16,1966. She often said she was very fortunate to have met and married this man who spoiled her. To this marriage two sons were born, Michael Leroy Berends and Milburn Henry Berends.
Linda worked for Myron Green Cafeteria in the State Office Building where she developed life-long friendships. She later worked and retired from Jostens Yearbook.
Kenny and Linda enjoyed spending time at the lake in their camper(s) and traveled throughout the western United States. A visit to her treasured homeland of the Ozarks was an annual event. They entertained grandchildren, nephews and nieces with camping as well as cross-country trips. Linda also kept an eye out for neighborhood children allowing them to enter the house any time the front door was open, encouraging them to go directly to the refrigerator for an orange pop. When Linda had visitors she would let them know their time was up with a gentle “isn’t it about time for you to go home?” Linda enjoyed crocheting and made afghans for her children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. She was a talented quilter and made many quilts for family members and donated many more to children in homeless shelters for which she had a special compassion. If you knew Linda, you know she held a big place in her heart for her dogs-they were her family, and yes, she made quilts for them, too!
Linda was baptized as a young child at Grant Avenue Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri and was a member of Topeka Bible Church.

Linda passed away in hospice care, on September 21, 2019, following an 18-month decline due to dementia. She was predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband, Kenneth, and her brothers-in-law Jackie Berends and Ronald Funk. She is survived by her son Michael Berends (Cathy), Milburn Berends, daughter-in-law Naomi Berends and grandsons, Ryan, Brent, Samuel and Nicholas and 3 great-grandchildren Brylan Kenneth, Ella Elizabeth, and Addilynn Kate. She is also survived by her sisters Cathy Funk and Shirley Evans (Gary), brother-in-law Bruce, sisters-in-law Patty Robinson, and MaryEllen Seaver, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Linda was laid to rest in a private graveside service beside her husband of 53 years at Rochester Cemetery in Topeka, Kansas.

The family has requested memorial donations be made to Prairie Paws Animal Shelter in Ottawa, Kansas.