Linda Louise (Koerber) Saunders

Linda Louise (Koerber) Saunders, 72, of Livingston, Montana passed away Wednesday, September 14th, 2016 at Spring Creek Inn Memory Care Center in Bozeman. Cremation has taken place at Franzen-Davis Crematory. A Memorial Funeral Service will be held 11:00 A.M., Monday, September 19th, at Livingston Christian Center, 1400 Mount Baldy Drive. A reception will follow the service at the Christian Centers Fellowship Hall. Graveside committal and burial will follow the reception at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman. Memorials are preferred to: The Livingston Food Bank or The Stafford Animal Shelter Linda was born on August 7th, 1944, in Manhattan, Montana. She was the daughter of Joseph Franklin and Emma Mary (Simonyi) Koerber, Linda grew up on a small farm in Manhattan until 1956 when the family moved into Bozeman. She was a graduate of the Holy Rosary Parochial High School Class of 1962. She worked at a bank in Bozeman as a teller and during that time Linda met Les Saunders; he was the big college man with his 57 Chevy and he stole her heart. On October 12th, 1963, Linda was united in marriage to Leslie Wayne "Les" Saunders, at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Bozeman. This marriage was blessed with three children, twins, daughter, Lori and son, Larry and another daughter, Lee Anne. Linda and Les shared 51 years of marriage prior to Les death in November of 2014. After their marriage they lived in Bozeman where Les began his career with the Montana Highway Department. Shortly thereafter he was transferred to Livingston, where they made it their home. Linda spent much of her time being a stay at home mom until the kids started middle school. She then took a job for the city as their meter maid. She enjoyed meeting and greeting everyone in the downtown area as she marched through her route chalking tires. During those ten years she enjoyed trying to catch many of her children and relatives by issuing them a "parking ticket!" Following her meter maid years, Linda lived for spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren. Linda was a talented artist painting many landscapes of the Montana outdoors. She preferred the medium of acrylic and oil, and later in life she did some water colors as well. She and Les were avid bowlers up until the late 1990s. She enjoyed playing pinochle and cribbage with family and friends. Linda was also a marvelous baker, making the most scrumptious cinnamon rolls and apple pies. She also enjoyed canning and pickling what she could from their annual garden. Some of the best memories were of the annual trips that she and her sisters, with all of their kids, took to Fromberg to visit their sister Jean. Dinners of fried chicken, fresh corn on the cob and creamy cucumber salad were always on the menu. A sweet lady filled with love for her family, mom, grandma, friend-you will be missed. Linda is survived by her: Children, Lori Chapman and her husband Joe of Livingston, Larry Saunders and his longtime companion, Gerry of Laramie, WY and Lee Anne Saunders of Livingston. Grandchildren; Kristina Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Cory (Stacy) Chapman and Meagan (James) Whitcher and their son, Odin James, Lindas first great-grandson, and Allan Saunders and Erika Saunders. Sisters, Teresa "Petie" Rockafellow and her husband, Rocky of Livingston and Madalyn "Maggie" Guggia of Livingston and California. Brother-in-law Jim ORourke of Great Falls. Nieces, nephews, cousins and many other relatives and friends. Linda is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Emma Koerber, her husband Les, siblings, Jean ORourke, Bobbie Fior and her husband Al, Mary Hendershott and her husband Bill and Joe Koerber and his wife Shirley. Arrangements are under the care of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.