Linda Fordham

Linda A. Fordham, 78, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 29, 2023, at her home surrounded by family and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 9, 2023, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel, Aberdeen, with Jay Dean Haaland officiating.

Visitation will be one hour before the service at Schriver’s.

A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow the service at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center.

A Celebration of Linda’s life will be held in the Summer of 2024. Details are to be announced at a later date.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Linda’s service will be live-streamed and available for playback for 30 days after the service on Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SchriversMemorial

Linda A. Krause was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, to Wilson and Caroline (Berg) Krause on September 11, 1945. Shortly after graduating from Central High School, Linda married Don Fordham on May 30, 1964, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Together they raised three daughters on a rural acreage caring for animals. She worked for Indian Health Services for over 28 years and was a partner with her husband in the creation of Fordham Signs in the late 1960s. She continued to operate the family business until her illness and it continues in family hands. She was known for her incredible work ethic and positive outlook on life. Those attributes and her infectious smile made Linda’s continued success a source of pride to all who knew her.

Linda adored celebrating her grandchildren’s achievements in the classroom and playing fields. She enjoyed adventures with her family to horse shows, planting flowers, hiking to waterfalls, and recently UTV rides in the Black Hills. She was always looking for an opportunity to celebrate with cake and ice cream!

Another family passion continued to be raising and showing American Quarter Horses. After years of supporting her family in the show pen, Linda competed at the AQHA Select World Show and she received South Dakota AQHA Rookie of the Year and recently started riding her horse, Crossfire. She was amazed at the friends who gathered in her barn and around her table. So many of the friends were brought together by their love of horses. Linda LOVED her horses and constant companions, Pepper and Bear, her dogs.

She will be dearly missed by daughters Kim (Randy Hapney) Fordham-Lien of Aberdeen, SD, Kris (Dan Stahlman) Fordham of Spearfish, SD, and Kara (Les Kimzey) Fordham of Aberdeen, SD; four granddaughters: Karalynn Kuhn, Alli Jo Joerger, Kiana Joerger, and Addison Fordham; sister, Barbara (Todd) Hendries of Corcoran, MN; brother Larry (Martha) Krause of Pulaski, TN; and sister-in-law Roberta (Jerry) Kelly.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Don Fordham.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.