Linda grew up on a farm near Sidney, Iowa where she was instilled by her parents with the values of honesty, compassion, empathy and tolerance which shaped her life. She graduated from Sidney High School where she was a cheer leader, played basketball, sang in the Chorus, played in the Band, acted in school plays, participated in 4-H and church youth activities and was a member of the National Honor Society. After graduation she attended Nebraska Wesleyan University for one year before moving to Nebraska City where she worked in a dental office. She later married Dr. Cecil Case, with whom she had three sons. After her marriage to Dr. Case ended, she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where she raised her sons as a single parent until her marriage to Ken Stevens (deceased).
Linda was married to Richard Peterson on September 25, 1987. Together they created a blended family of which she was the center. During the next 37 years they traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad, frequently joined by one or more of their siblings. She was particularly fond of camping trips, first in a tent and later in their “land yacht”. Her great joy was building memories by having her grandchildren along with her on outings to Mahoney State Park. She filled many albums with her photographs of the trips she and Richard enjoyed together and of family gatherings, her flowers and her grandchildren.
Linda resumed her education in 1985 at UN-L from which she graduated with high distinction in 1988, having achieved a 4.0 GPA. She was chosen as the Outstanding Senior of the College of Home Economics that year. Linda continued her education at UN-L and earned a Master of Science degree in 1991.
Linda combined her pursuit of her higher education with working for Youth Services (TLC) as a resident youth counselor at their boys and girls group homes. Later she was employed by Child Protective Services as an intake caseworker and by the Department of Social Services as a foster parent trainer.
After receiving her Master’s degree, Linda was credentialed as a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and as a Certified Professional Counselor. She was employed by Lincoln General Hospital as a Youth and Family Specialist in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services unit where she provided individual, family and group therapy for patients and their families until 1995. She then established her own private counseling practice providing individual and family counseling with an emphasis on children and youth, which she continued until her retirement.
Linda was blessed with the gifts of compassion and empathy. She always rooted for the underdog and believed life should be fair, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. Inclusiveness was the word she lived by and exclusion was not in her vocabulary.
Linda was a long-time member of First-Plymouth Congregational Church where she served as a Stephen Minister and as a pastoral care visitor. She was a Team Mates mentor and was one of the founders of The Gathering Place.
Linda loved flowers, children, long walks with dear friends and her devoted Shi-Poo, Rocky. She treasured her grandchildren; rejoiced at family gatherings; and enjoyed traveling, camping, reading and her flower gardens.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert and Nella Benson; by her brothers Richard (Lynn} Benson and 1st Lt. A.D. Benson and her brother-in-law Donald Peterson.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Peterson; her sons and daughters-in law Michael and Laurie Case and Andrew and Dee Dee Case and son Stephen Case; her stepson and daughter-in-law Tom and Stephanie Peterson; her stepdaughter and son-in-law Nancy Peterson and Mark Watermeier; her sister and brother-in-law, Kaye and Larry Hummel; her sister-in-law Marilyn Benson; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Dorothy and Bill Vaughn; her sister-in-law Erwina Peterson; her thirteen grandchildren and four great-children; and her many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Cedar Creek of High Plains and Tabitha Hospice. The compassionate care they provided for Linda was a blessing to her and her family.
A memorial service will be held 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at First Plymouth Church, 2000 D. Street, 68502. Rev. Dr. Jim Keck officiating.
In her memory hug a child, plant a flower and be kind to one another.
Memorial gifts may be made to The Gathering Place c/o Community Action, 210 0 Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.