Linda Schwab Ryder, 75
Linda Schwab Ryder (Robinson), 75, passed away quietly in her sleep on Mon. Oct. 9, 2023, in Kalispell.
She was born Jan. 21, 1948, in Missoula, Montana, to Alfred and Stefanie Schwab as an only child. Alfred was originally from Hebron, North Dakota, and Stefanie (Lehner) from Vienna, Austria. She took great pride in her Austrian heritage and enjoyed multiple trips outside the country to visit family. She was raised in Missoula and graduated from Sentinel High School in June 1966. She had deep love for her parents and stayed close to them throughout their life.
At 20 Linda married her first husband, Dennis Robinson on Aug. 31, 1968, and had three children, daughter Kimberly, and twin sons Ryan and Kelly. She prided herself in being a great at-home mom and always put family first. She had an affinity for crafts applying herself to painting, calligraphy, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitching, and decorating for the holidays. Life was filled with camping, kid's sporting events, travel, and managing the many moves the family made throughout the Northwest until finally settling in Kalispell. She cherished all the small moments of joy she shared with the family at each of these new areas, making life-long friends along the way.
As her kids transitioned to college she also enrolled and achieved her dream of getting a college degree graduating with an AA degree with Honors in Business Education at FVCC. Following her divorce in 2003, she built a new life in the Kalispell Village Greens community, golfing in the Women's League, avidly playing bunco with the local playing group, going on trips to the Caribbean on a sailing yacht, and traveling to Mexico to take in the culture. She developed a successful career in medical office management and transcription, later retiring from KRMC. All the while she kept busy with family events, keeping up with graduations, marriages, and the births of her dear grandchildren. Her favorite place was anywhere with babies and kids in her arms.
In 2006, she developed a close relationship with a member of the local senior singles group, beginning a new chapter in her life. She married Rick Ryder March 7, 2011, and spent the remaining wonderful years with him until her passing. Their time together included a lot of travel to her favorite oasis Hawaii, visiting her family roots in Vienna where Rick was enthusiastically welcomed, cruising the Mediterranean to favorite ports of call, as well as visiting the Eastern US for fall colors, historical monuments, and big city excitement. She would also fly out for visits with her daughter Kimberly and family, as well good friends. She maintained her interests in scrapbooking, golfing, and fulfilling her joy for the outdoors through biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding.
She was preceded in death by her parents Stefanie and Alfred Schwab in 2003, 2005 respectively.
She is survived by her husband, Rick Ryder; her daughter and her husband, Kimberly and Andrew Kitchen, with their children Spencer and Nathaniel; her son and his wife, Ryan and Sarah Robinson, with their children Grady and Weston; and her son and his wife, Kelly and Mandy Robinson, with their children Graciee, Gunner, Grafton, and Gandenn. She was blessed with these eight wonderful grandchildren, and always cherished the time she had with them as well as other family members and friends.
Linda was compassionate, caring, loving, and always a magnet for joy and laughter. She was well loved by family and friends. She will always be remembered as being full of life, a willing hugger, and having a deep sense of family togetherness.
Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Fri. Oct. 27, at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, followed by a gathering at 3 p.m. at the Village Greens Community Center. In lieu of flowers we ask that you donate in memory of Linda S. Ryder to the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate.