Linda Rose (Farhart) Varberg
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Beloved and admired wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend Linda Rose (Farhart) Varberg showed grace, courage, and determination in her three-year battle with breast cancer, which ended on March 8, 2015. She was born on May 9, 1960 in Stanley, North Dakota. She married John Bruce Varberg on June 6, 1981 in Ross, North Dakota. A graduate of Stanley High School, she attended the University of North Dakota and earned a B.S. in Business Administration in 1982. At the University of Kansas, she went on to earn an M.B.A. in Human Resources in 1986 and completed a year of coursework toward a Master’s in Social Welfare in 1989. She served as Assistant Director for Administration at the Applied English Center at KU until 1996. She completed her coursework and was certified in Therapeutic Massage at Johnson County Community College in 2001 and for several years had a massage therapy practice in Lawrence. Linda worked with the Education Outreach Program at the Community Mercantile until she was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2011. She was a volunteer massage therapist with the Parkinson’s Disease Support Group and Douglas County VNA & Hospice Care.
She is survived by her husband John of Lawrence; sons Joe (Kaela) of Indianapolis, Indiana and Byron of Kansas City, Missouri; father Joe Farhart of Minot, North Dakota; sisters Nancy Farhart of Minot, North Dakota, and Cathy (Greg) Landon of Ryder, North Dakota; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother June Elizabeth (Nielsen) Farhart; her brother Steven Carl; and her infant niece.
The family wishes to thank Drs. Sharon Soule and Darren Klish and the staff at Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology for their care and devotion. They also wish to thank the staff of Douglas County VNA & Hospice Care for their compassion and assistance in providing Linda with a peaceful death in her own home.
A Celebration of Life gathering will be held to honor Linda in lieu of a reception after the funeral on Friday, March 13, 2015, 7:00-10:00 pm at the Cider Gallery, 810 Pennsylvania Street, in Lawrence, KS. The funeral for Linda will be on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 10:30 am at the First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence. Contributions in Linda’s memory may be made to Douglas County VNA & Hospice Care, 200 Maine Street, Suite C, Lawrence, KS 66044. Condolences may be left at http://warrenmcelwain.cwgen.com/.
Arrangements: Warren-McElwain Mortuary 785-843-1120.
John, Joe, Byron, Cousins Cathy and Nancy and Uncle Joe,
May our heavenly Father be present with you all during this sad and difficult time. Please know our prayers and thoughts are with you and we share your grief. The memories we have of our Dear Linda Rose will remain in our hearts forever.
My sincere condolences to Linda’s family on her passing. Although it has been quite some time since we last met, I was glad to have known her as a classmate and friend during our high school years. I for one will think of you often as I do of my other classmates that have left us to early in life. Godspeed, and God-bless.
Prayers to the family and friends of Linda. I will always remember all the good times we shared and all the sleepovers we had. She was like a sister to me all thru junior high and high school her family was my second family. I love you all dearly and pray that you find peace with her passing knowing she is in God’s hands now. Rest in peace Linda and know you will be missed by all.
Linda was a very kind and compassionate person who was always quick to lend a helping hand and listening ear. She was a friendly face at Stepping Stones when her children were young. I enjoyed getting to know her and watching her be a loving mother to Joe and Byron. My heart hurts for her family. May you find peace and strength and allow the memories you have to warm you heart and put a smile on your face. God bless you all. ❤
My thoughts and prayers go out to the whole family. Linda was 1 grade ahead of me in school. She was always a kind and friendly person. So sad that someone so young left this earth. God had a plan for her and felt that she was needed somewhere else. God’s blessings to all that knew her.
Joe & Byron,
I am so sorry to read about your mother’s passing. I remember how actively involved and caring she was with both of you, while you were students of mine. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Chris English
Tom and family, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I remember Linda as vibrant and happy and always smiling!
Sincerely,
Gary and family
Dear Family….you are in our thoughts and prayers constantly. Our neighborhood stands beside you as you plan and decide and grieve…as well as when you celebrate the wonderful woman Linda was, is, and always will be. God bless you and keep you, until we all meet again. With heartfelt gratitude for knowing and loving Linda…my dear, free spirited friend, Mary Lou
Sending my condolences to Linda, her family and friends. May God bless each of you in this difficult time, to give you peace, love and comfort. A very dear friend, classmate and neighbor. Memories of her to be cherished all the more. RIP Linda Rose Farhart.
My most sincere condolences from my mother (Amy Strasser) and from me on the passing of Linda. My mom’s message is that she was a smart young lady when she taught her in high school. My message is to pray for peace for her family and friends, and a memory of all the good she did for others. She was a very nice person.
John, Joe and Byron,
We were very blessed to know Linda while the boys were growing up. She always made Josh feel so welcome at your house and he was very fond of her. Just know you all are in our thoughts as you pass through this difficult time.
I knew Linda long ago when our boys were young. She was a gracious and kind person, and I also appreciated her great massages! I’m very sorry to hear about her passing. Sincerely, Helen Alexander
I did not know linda, but is john varberg from grand forks?
I hope you find peace in losing your wife john.