Linda Schaefer  (Info from Susan Schaefer)

Birthday: February 8, 1952

Died:  May 26, 1997 (ovarian cancer)

Birthplace:  Elgin IL

Occupation: Office administrator, foreign student counselor

Never married, no children

Accomplishments:

Bachelor of Arts degree from Elmhurst College (IL) in French and Italian        

Worked for Northwestern Airlines in New York City 1970-75 so she could travel on the employee benefits

Moved to Norway to learn Norwegian by cultural immersion; studied vocal music at a community college in Hamar, Norway 1976-78

Moved to Minneapolis near step-family 1978-80

Returned to Norway to follow her heart (both the culture and a young man!). Worked for Esso Oil in Stavanger.  Member of Stavanger Cathedral Choir.  1980-1985.

First cancer diagnosis.  Moved back to U.S., to Denver, started graduate school in counseling with an emphasis on international students, 1985-89.

Moved back to Minneapolis after ovarian cancer diagnosis.  When not in treatment, worked at University of Minnesota in the student services (adaptive for disabilities) center.

           Became a Stephens Minister at a United Church of Christ Church in 1995.  

School Story: Linda loved being in the musical ensembles, especially enjoying playing “Laurie” in the musical Oklahoma in spring of 1970.  She also enjoyed her friends Claudia Ruge, Wendy Hales and others who I can’t remember (older sister losing her memory)

High points of Linda's life:  Linda loved living in Norway, and her years there were the high point of her life! Her aim in going there was to learn to speak the language like a native, and she did!  People did not guess she was American!  She loved to travel, and was able to go many wonderful places around the world.  Her passion was to work as a university counselor for foreign students, which she was pursuing when she died.  She had always hoped someone would love her enough to marry her, and she always wanted children of her own. 

Notes: Sisters Nancy and Susan Schaefer still grieve Linda’s passing.  She had such a zest for life and had a sweet and generous heart.  We hope you remember her fondly.  She enjoyed her years at CLCHS, the activities that brought so much fun, and the warm friendships she had with her classmates. 

Class Of 1970

After participating in several musical productions at and graduating from Elmhurst College, Linda worked for Northwest Airlines in New York City for several years as a Reservations Agent. She then attended a "folk high school" in Norway with just 3 weeks of intensive language training. She worked for 7 years for Esso in Stavanger, mastering Norwegian enough to warm up the choir she belonged to there, singing in a local musical production and translating for the choir on its trips to France and Germany. She returned to the US when first diagnosed with cancer, got a graduate degree in counseling in Denver and worked in a medical office while facilitating a support group of fellow cancer patients in Minneapolis for several years before passing in 1997.