Linda G. Fries, the daughter of Jack Allen and Vyvyan (Madron) Martin, was born May 17, 1950, in Hamburg, Iowa. Linda attended Watson schools, Watson, Missouri, through 6th grade. She then graduated valedictorian from Rock Port High School, Rock Port, Missouri, in 1968. Linda then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, graduating with honors in 1972. Linda was a loyal supporter of the K-State alumni association and football program. She loved the K-State Wildcats.

On June 17, 1978, Linda was united in marriage to Dan Fries at the First Lutheran Church in Rock Port. They became the parents of one son, Jack Marion, and made their home in Fairfax, Missouri. Later, they built a home on their farm east of Fairfax where they lived to the present time.

Linda worked for Morris Paints and Nebraska Furniture Mart, both in Omaha, Nebraska, and a bank in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Linda returned home and was employed by the Bank of Atchison County until she and Dan had their son, Jack. She then decided to leave the bank so she could focus on raising her family and supporting her husband in the family farming and trucking business. More recently Linda worked with her brother Reed and sister-in-law Staci at their business, Watson Fireworks. Linda always worked hard but family came first and she was the best mother and wife her family could imagine.

Linda was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in Fairfax, and a charter member of the Atchison County Memorial Building Foundation. Linda passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2019, at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Rock Port at the age of 69.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents and numerous aunts and uncles. Survivors include her husband, Dan Fries, Fairfax; son, Jack Marion Fries, Wichita, Kansas; brother, Reed Martin and wife, Staci, Watson, and their children, Montana and Brock; sister, JaNay Oestmann and husband, Jim, Auburn, Nebraska, and their children, Meleia and Alexa; and uncle, Harold “Bud” Martin, Watson.

A Celebration of Life service was held Saturday, September 28, 2019, at the Atchison County Memorial Building, Rock Port, conducted by Pastor Dick Lionberger. Interment was at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Fairfax. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Atchison County Memorial Building Foundation or Big Lake Baptist Church, Big Lake, Missouri.

Online condolences may be left at www.minterfuneralchapels.com. Services were under the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.