11/30/2014
Linda Marie (Moore) Bethell, age 65, died 30 November at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center following complications from surgery. She was born 13 March 1949 at home in Adair County, Iowa.
Following the death of her mother Joan Moore, she was raised by her adoptive father Estel (Red) Moore and his wife Elsie Moore.
She was a graduate of Knoxville (Iowa) High School and the University of Northern Iowa where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Vocational Home Economics.
Linda, always a teacher, was a Sensei (Master) in the Ohara School of Ikebana and took great pleasure in working with flowers and passing on her knowledge.
A devoted wife of 44 years she took great pride in being 25 years a Military Spouse (the truly unsung heroes) and a loving, caring mother. She had spent 10 years overseas, coming from Yokota Japan to St. Johnsbury in 1994. She elected to make this her first real home and immersed herself in the community. She was a past Secretary/Treasurer at South Congregational Church, a past member of the board for Sunset House and Kingdom Community Services and until this year the Food Shelf Thanksgiving Turkey contact.
At the time of her death she was the Treasurer of North Congregational Church. She also ran a small bookkeeping service from her home. Strong in her spiritual beliefs she was a graduate of the Vermont Academy of Spiritual Training and the Steven Ministries.
Linda is survived by her husband Dr. Charles Bethell of St. Johnsbury, her son C. Frank Bethell who resides in Manchester N.H. with his wife the former Kathryn Evarts of Burlington, Vt. and her daughter Amber Bethell of Redlands, Calif. She is also survived by her step-sister Carol Frentress and step-brother Michael Sheehan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, 11 December at North Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to 1 of her 3 favorite organizations: the USO (United Service Organization) PO Box 96860, Washington DC 20077-7677; (Toys for Tots) Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, The Cooper Center, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172-1776 or Kingdom Community Services, 36 Steeple Place, St Johnsbury 05819.