Obituary of Linda Jean Cheney

In Memory of

Linda Jean Cheney

1947 – 2024

Linda Jean Cheney passed away on 12 February 2024 after a short illness. Linda had both her husband, Richard, and youngest daughter, Rebecca, at her bedside at the time of her passing. She passed without pain and now is in the arms of our Lord.

Linda was born in Berkeley, CA, on 29 June 1947, to Herman and Rosemary Ferguson. She graduated from Del Valle High School in Walnut Creek, CA in 1965. After graduation, Linda worked as a laboratory technician in the Biochemistry Department of U.C. Berkeley.  She loved bringing her pet gecko into work on her shoulder, delighting in the reactions of her fellow bus passengers and colleagues.  Her vibrant and quirky personality caught the attention of her future husband, Richard, who worked alongside her. 

As their romance flourished they gave each other the nicknames of King Toad and Junebug, which sparked an impressive amphibian collection for years to come. They married in Alameda, CA, on 23 February 1974, and immediately moved to New Jersey where Richard pursued a career in the Air Force.

Linda was the perfect military wife. Richard’s career took the family to the Philippines, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, California, and finally to Germany. She handled all the curveballs that the military threw her way with grace, humor, and a large glass of wine. Her gardening skills won multiple awards on military bases across continents.  She was a devoted mother to her  three children: Sarah (Buglet), Stephen (Tadpole), and Rebecca (Buglet #2). She truly enjoyed being a mother, reading stories, baking cookies, planning parties, sewing costumes, and counting ice cream as an acceptable breakfast food.

Despite moving every few years Linda cultivated lifelong friendships in each new home. Some of her happiest times were laughing and sharing stories with her friends over a margarita or a strong pint of bier. Always frugal, she enjoyed frequenting local thrift stores or hunting for a bargain while shopping with friends.  Linda also had a competitive spirit that won her many games of Scrabble and Rummikub.

She finally was able to settle down for a bit in Germany, content to live there for 21 years. Her last (most perfect) baby was adopted here: her Westie, Ginger Marie, who shared a love of walking through the dense forests of Germany and splitting a bratwurst.

Always a caregiver, Linda returned to California in 2014 to be there for her mother in her later years. After Rosemary passed in 2020, Linda’s health began a steady decline. Shortly before moving to Oregon in 2021, Linda fell, broke her arm, and had to go into rehab. She suffered several falls while living in Oregon requiring hospital and rehab visits. Richard and Linda relocated to Colorado in 2023 to be closer to family and to take advantage of a larger medical system. The falls and her health continued to decline, despite the best efforts of her many doctors. The final event was a diagnosis of sepsis that led to her entering hospice and passing within the day.

Linda’s bright blue eyes twinkled when she smiled and laughed. She loved her children and her friends dearly and remained close to them until her health started to decline. As news of Linda’s passing has spread, her friends shared stories with the family on how kind she was and how she touched each of their lives in such heartwarming ways. Linda will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Linda was preceded in death by her son, Stephen. She leaves behind her husband of almost 50 years, Richard, brother, Brian Ferguson (Berit Meyer), daughters Sarah (Timothy) Schwehr, and Rebecca (James) Maloney, and 6 grandchildren.

Linda will be laid to rest alongside her son at Fort Logan National Cemetery. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held in the summer in Denver; more information will be forthcoming but all are welcome.