Linda A. Schwartz

Linda was born on December 5, 1943 in Devils Lake, ND, the daughter of Eddie and Esther (Elvrum) Kleven. She graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1961 and attended college at Jamestown College, earning a degree in English with a Music Minor.

In 1965, she married her college sweetheart, Curtis L. Mahnke, and she spent her early career teaching Junior and Senior High School classes in St. Paul, Minnesota.

During the next few years, there were job-related moves to Chicago, Illinois where Lane was born, and then to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Craig was born. Linda was able to stay home with her children until they were in grade school when she began substitute teaching. During that time, she returned to college and completed accounting coursework and then worked part time managing the books for a couple of small businesses in Milwaukee for several years. She went on to work full time as a bookkeeper for Flanner and Hafsoos Music House in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin for many years until she decided to leave the snow country and move to a warmer climate.

In 1991, Linda relocated to Phoenix, Arizona along with her mother, Esther Kleven, and worked at Robson Communities as the Accounting Department Manager until her retirement in 2009. Linda learned to love the desert climate, and she met and married Bob Schwartz and made Sun City Arizona her permanent home.

Linda was fiercely independent and always stayed busy with projects around her home. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and took pride in watching her four granddaughters grow into young adults and ensured that they had the opportunity to continue their education beyond high school. Linda had a knack for creating and over the years found joy in making stained glass as well as some clay projects and making denim quilts for many family members. For several years, Linda loved her cabin in Munds Park, Arizona and getting to spend time with family and friends away from the summer heat. She also looked forward to travelling to Texas to visit Craig and his family as often as she could. Linda enjoyed having her sister Ellen and brother-in-law Gordon nearby after they relocated to Arizona and treasured the many memories of good times spent together with extended family.

Linda was an active member of the American Lutheran Church of Sun City, made many strong friendships there and enjoyed volunteering her time to count money in the Church office every week.

The family would like to thank the staff at Abrazo Medical Center for the care and compassion they showed Linda in her final days and the staff at Arbor Ridges for providing the supportive care when needed.

Memorial donations in Linda’s memory may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Preceding Linda in death are her parents Eddie and Esther Kleven and she leaves behind her daughter, Lane (Manny) Ramirez of Anthem, AZ; her son Craig (Patty) Mahnke of Boerne, TX; four granddaughters, Dana (Joe) Cantelme of Prescott Valley, AZ, Taylor Cotton of Anthem, AZ, Lauren Mahnke, and Lila Mahnke of Boerne, TX. In addition, she leaves behind her sister Ellen Olson, of Rhode Island, her brother Adin (Marlene) Kleven of Fargo, ND, and several nieces and nephews who were very special to her including Mark Olson, Paul Olson, Beverly Tosch, Perry Kleven, Jeff Kleven, Chris Kleven and Missy Theel.