Linda Bork

Linda Sue Bork passed away peacefully in the early hours of Monday, June 16, 2025, surrounded by her family, at Monument Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Linda was born in Pipestone, Minnesota and grew up in the small town of Edgerton, Minnesota. She lived and went to school there until 1963 and then moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she attended nursing school at Washington High School, School of Practical Nursing, Class of 1964. While attending high school at Southwest Christian High School, she met the love of her life, Wallace Bork. The pair had their first official date during a senior class trip to Minneapolis, where Linda would later lovingly recall falling in love with Wally’s “sparkly, brown eyes”. Wally left in August for the military and was worried she would move on, but she waited for him, and they resumed their love story upon his return from basic training. While Wally was away in the National Guard, she completed her nursing degree and moved back to Luverne, Minnesota, where she began work at the Luverne Hospital. Wally and Linda married February 5, 1965, on a beautiful, 65-degree, winter day, allowing Linda to walk to church in a light sweater, while Wally finished an early morning shift at work where he was unloading a cement car, before cleaning up and rushing to their ceremony. They honeymooned in Minneapolis and stayed at the Curtiss Hotel, where their love story together had begun on their senior class trip and continued for 60 blissful years of marriage.

Wally and Linda re-located several times including Redwood Falls, Minnesota, Worthington, Minnesota, Luverne, Watertown, South Dakota, and Rapid City. Linda supported her husband with each move and found a new job in the nursing field in each location, but she never let him live it down that she “had to find new jobs while he stayed in the same company”. She touched countless lives with her caring and heartfelt nature to others through both her work and the friendships she developed. Linda retired in 2006 but continued with her compassionate caring by volunteering for the hospice house. Wally and Linda were blessed with four children, Paula, Susan, Tim and Heidi. The family spent many memorable times on camping trips, going to ball games, enjoying family holidays, and other times together. Linda’s hobbies and activities included, but were not limited to; ladies’ softball, volleyball, golfing, Bible studies, singing and listening to inspirational music, traveling, and seeing the beauty in all of nature and her surroundings.

Linda and Wally were always active in their church families throughout their lives. Linda regularly participated in Bible studies. They instilled a love for Jesus in their children and grandchildren through prayer and worship of their Lord.

Wally and Linda enjoyed traveling together, with trips to Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Florida and numerous locations across the country. After Wally’s retirement, they decided they had had enough of the frigid winters and decided to winter in Arizona where they enjoyed the sunshine for twelve wonderful seasons. In 2015, Wally and Linda celebrated their 50th Anniversary with friends and family in Arizona. Linda became an avid acrylics painter while there, with each painting reflecting the beauty she found in the world.

Wally and Linda sold their Arizona home in 2023, following Linda’s diagnosis with Valley fever and they moved back to Rapid City year around. In February 2025, Linda and Wally celebrated another milestone in their never-ending love story, their 60th wedding Anniversary.

Linda is lovingly remembered by her husband, Wallace “Wally” Bork; children, Paula (Jim) Sturm of Yankton, South Dakota, Tim (Tanya) Bork of Sheridan Wyoming, and Heidi (Jim) Morris of Missoula, Montana; grandchildren, Shanna and Mason Sturm, Sydney and Maya Bork, Sullivan and Hattie Morris; 3 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Kathy (Curt) Walhof. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Susan Bork; parents, Sam and Hattie Tinklenberg; siblings, Betty Jean Bartel, Marvin Tinklenberg, Virgil Tinklenberg; and grandson, Justin Sturm.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, June 28, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. Funeral service will be held on Sunday, June 29, at 2:00 PM at Rimrock Church in Rapid City, with Pastor Ben Green officiating. A second visitation will be Tuesday, July 1, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Graveside committal service will be Wednesday, July 2, at 9:30 AM at Hillside Cemetery in Edgerton. In lieu of flowers, Linda had requested donations be made to Rapid City Christian School, Monument Hospice, or Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton.