Linda Wagner

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Linda Diane Wagner, 80, passed away on April 26, 2023, at the Baptist Home in Bismarck, ND.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, May 1, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1143 N 26th St, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held held 6:00-7:30 PM, Sunday, April 30, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church.

Burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck.

Linda Diane Sayler was born Jan. 2, 1943, in Garrison ND, the youngest child of Theophalis (Dave) and Leona (Schafer) Sayler. She was raised there and graduated from Garrison High School. She married Korah (Jack) Briggs Jan. 28, 1961. They lived on a farm in Esmond and welcomed to their family a daughter, Korie, and a son, Jonathan. Jack died of cancer in 1964.

Linda was resilient. She earned her cosmetology license and worked as a hair stylist while raising Korie and Jon. On Oct. 6, 1973, Linda married Garry Wagner in Garrison. They lived in Max and welcomed a daughter, Sara.

Linda enjoyed people. Throughout her life Linda was active in her church and choir. She worked for many years at K-Mart in Minot and continued at K-Mart in Bismarck when she and Garry moved to Mandan in 1992. She later worked at JCPenney and maintained friendships with the “Penney’s girls” for many years. After retirement she continued to work part-time as the “sample lady” at Dan’s Supermarket, where she loved visiting with customers.

Linda was known for her homemade caramel rolls, pies, and soups (as well as her messy kitchen during the process). She was a skilled seamstress and loved ironing. She was a natural at crafting and decorating, with an eye for floral arrangements. Linda was a prankster and appreciated a good sense of humor. She loved a celebration. She decorated for every holiday and served dessert with almost every meal (especially for her grandchildren). As a grandma, she encouraged a finger in the sugar bowl and butter dish. Linda was a 37-year breast cancer survivor.

Always keeping busy, Linda helped to start the Bismarck Parkinson’s support group in 2011, as well as the annual Parkinson’s Walk Run. 2023 will be 13^th year of raising funds and spreading awareness.

In 1968, Linda, a brave birth mom, chose to place her son with a loving family in Spokane, WA.  54 years later this son, Scott, and Linda met for the first time in Sept. 2022 in Bismarck. She was so excited to finally meet him and his family. Her life was now complete. These past several months have been a blessing for the entire family.

Linda is survived by her husband of 49 years, Garry Wagner; children, Korie (Ron) Huettl, Jon (Carmen) Briggs, Scott (Michelle) Hottell, and Sara (Jon) Kelsch; grandchildren, Emily Huettl (Dustin Anderson), Jordan (Katie) Huettl, Kyle Briggs, Mariah (Presley) Kann, Ashlie Hottell, Brandon (Emily) Hottell, Lexus (Michael) Wiest, Leah Kelsch, and Bryson Kelsch; great-grandchildren, Etta, Archer and Della Huettl, Rhys Anderson, Marley Hottell, Emerson and Killian Hottell, and Henry and Owen Wiest; brother, Ernie (Debbie) Sayler; sister, Jan (Eric) Greenwell; sisters and brothers-in-law, Pat Briggs, Mary Briggs, Arnold and Sharon Briggs, Lorraine “Sis” Skoglund, Barbara Schmitcke, Sharon “Shari” Briggs, and Beverly Wagner; and many nieces and nephews.

Linda was preceded in death by her first husband, Korah Jack Briggs; parents, Dave and Leona Sayler; parents-in-law, Opal and Rolland Briggs and Clara and Deofil Wagner; sisters and brothers-in-law, Rita Sayler, Rollie Briggs, Betty and Robert (Bob) Schafer, Evelyn and Milton Johnson, Coral and Lester Beaudoin, Leona and Lloyd Golde, Lawrence Briggs, Charles “Todd” Briggs, Ervin Schmitcke, Dennes Wagner, and Curtis and Wilma Wagner; and several nieces and nephews.