LINNEA NIXON

She was predeceased by her husband Leonard; parents Henning and Gerda Peterson; in-laws Robert and Florence Nixon; brother Folke Peterson; and sister Vivian Peterson.

Linnea worked on the family farm in Bergland. She loved gardening and flowers. She was told by numerous people she should have been a florist. Linnea definitely had a green thumb. Her house was always full of beautiful flowering plants. In her younger years she worked out on Lake of the Woods during the summer months at Cedar Island and on the Ark (owned by Mr. Bettendorf).

Linnea moved into Fort Frances in 1950 to take a full time job as a housekeeper for Mr. and Mrs. Mel Newman. While living in Fort Frances Linnea met the love of her life Leonard Nixon, who happened to live right next door to her grandparents. Linnea and Leonard were married in the spring of 1954, and soon after started their family with the birth of their daughter Debbie in July of 1955. Their second child was born four years later in January of 1959, a son Brad.

With her family completed, Linnea became a stay at home mom and loved every minute. Family was everything to Linnea. Linnea did return to work one summer later in life to work at Shannon Camp on Rainy Lake with her sister Vivian. She said it was more like a vacation. She just loved being on the lakes.

Linnea was very proud of her Swedish Heritage, joining the dance group and was involved in Culturama. This brought her so much joy being able to dance in this group and share this experience with her sister Vivian and aunts Elna and Lotti. Linnea was able to make two trips back to Sweden, one with her mother Gerda and her sister Vivian, the second trip was made with her best friend aunt Elna. After these trips they would all gather at Linnea’s and reminisce and laugh about what fun they had traveling and visiting relatives. One story that made everyone laugh was how Elna kept Linnea up most nights with her snoring.

Another one of Linnea’s passions was bowling and she had her long time neighbour and friend Teddy Bone to thank for that. Linnea started bowling in the early 1960’s and continued right into the mid 1970’s. She bowled in the ladies league and mix league. Linnea was an outstanding bowler, winning numerous trophies for champions in ladies and mixed league. Then there were the individual trophies she won for high single in both the ladies and mixed league.Two more hobbies of Linnea’s were berry picking and garage sales.

When Heading out to pick berries she would pack a nice picnic lunch and be gone the whole day, spending it with her close friends, her aunts Elna and Lotti. We once asked them, “aren’t you three worried about running into bears?” At their age they certainly couldn’t outrun the bear. They just smiled and said if you don’t bother them they won’t bother you. They were quite the threesome!

Now the garage sales were Linnea and Elna’s passion. We believe Leonard had to put a stop to this after Linnea filled their basement. We are pretty sure she would sneak a few more items in when Leonard wasn’t looking.

Like I said before, family was everything to Linnea. She was a wonderful cook and she hosted many family gatherings of up to 20 people or more in her tiny home. Linnea made sure everyone had plenty to eat and drink.

Linnea never did learn to drive, so after her husband Leonard passed away her and her children had to use the taxi service in town. The children had challenges, but between the three of them they leaned on each other and enjoyed their life and time together in Fort Frances.

At the age of 90, Linnea decided it was time for her to move into long term care in Rainy River, where her children Debbie and Brad had moved a few months before. This was in 2021. Linnea was so happy to have been reunited with her children.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Northridge Funeral Home Ltd., Emo, Ontario.