Linda Darlene Radke, age 75, passed away at Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota on Sunday, February 25th surrounded by her family as they shared some of their favorite memories and reasons why she was so incredibly loved.

Linda was born on January 20, 1949 in Siren, WI to parents Francis and Maryann Schmidt.

Linda married the love of her life, Ronald Radke on January 22, 1966. Linda and Ronald were inseparable for 58 years and created countless milestones together. As Ronald mentioned to Linda in some of those final moments, “Lin, we made a great team.” A few of their greatest achievements were owning and operating the Diary Bar and the success of their fireworks business which is going on 30 years strong. The both of them together were unstoppable when it came to working hard and achieving their goals.

Aside from Linda’s entrepreneurial spirit she was the mother to three daughters. Linda will be buried next to her twin daughters who sadly did not make it long after birth. Linda and Ronald later on welcomed their third beautiful Daughter, Dione, into the world, 54 years ago. Linda taught Dione how to be a nurturing mother, caring grandmother, loving wife, and fearless leader.

Dione has three children who Linda absolutely adored. Emma, Linda’s granddaughter, recently asked her mother Dione, “how come we were at mama and papa’s so much growing up?” and Dione responded back with “because you all always asked to go over there.” That alone shows how loved they felt by Linda. Linda spent as much free time with Dione and her grandchildren as she could and if they were apart, she would be calling and texting to check in.

Linda was not only a wife, mother, and grandma. She also was able to experience being a great grandma the past three years to Remy and Tate –as much as we wished she could have met all of her future great grandbabies in the years to come. She learned how to be the best great grandma from her mother, Maryann, who her great grandchildren called “funny grandma” because she had such a fun spirit. During Linda’s stay at the ICU in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, she mentioned that she was not ready to see her mother Maryann yet. That shows how much a fighter she was being for her family and the battle she was facing.

Before the family all had to say goodbye to Linda, Ronald told the doctor that Linda is strong. She was and always will be the strongest person any of us have the privilege of knowing. Her battle with rheumatoid arthritis was a hard fight for many years. We rest easy knowing that she is no longer in pain. She will be deeply missed by her husband, daughter, grandchildren, great grandchildren, siblings, and family.

We love you so much and there will not be a day we don’t think about you and wish we could talk with you and hear your laugh. You couldn’t have been a better person. We miss you already.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents and twin daughters.

Linda is survived by her husband, Ronald Radke; daughter, Dione Warren; grandchildren, Emma Capra, Cole Haseman, Jake Haseman; great grandchildren, Remy Capra, Tate Capra; and siblings, Diann Schmidt and Tommy Schmidt.

The funeral service will take place on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 2:00 PM (visitation from 1:00 – 2:00 PM) at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home with Pastor John Addison officiating. Burial will follow at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery with pallbearers Cole Haseman, Jake Haseman, Tommy Schmidt, Max Capra, Todd Warren and Don “Wildman.”

Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home.

Last Update: Feb 28, 2024 8:25 am CST