Linda Blanchard

On Sunday, May 3rd, 2020, Linda Blanchard, loving wife of Dexter Blanchard and mother of two children, passed away at the age of 72. Linda was born June 12, 1947 in Newport, New Hampshire. She received her nursing degree at the New Hampshire Hospital School of Nursing in 1968. She and Dexter were married August 31st, 1968 in Enfield, New Hampshire. They ventured to Alaska in 1970 and lived in Anchorage and Kodiak before building a home in Willow. Linda was a loving and kind-hearted school nurse in the Mat-Su Borough School District from 1975 until she retired in 2002. Linda was supportive and nurturing, she participated in a variety of clubs and groups for children. She reached out to serve friends and community members who were hurt, sick, or dying. She loved to laugh and see others joyful, and she let people know that she cared about them. She enjoyed sharing good food, and making others feel welcome and comfortable in her home. She was a great listener, remembered special days, gave many compliments, and wanted to hear about others rather than talk about herself. Linda was adventurous and loved to camp, hike, ski, swim, golf, dance, collect rocks, and watch birds. She loved being on or near water, one of her favorite birds were loons, she loved to fish and never got seasick. She was observant, patient, and had a deep appreciation for nature. She tended a large vegetable garden with Dexter and always had a yard full of beautiful flowers in the summer. Linda was preceded in death by her father, Richard Dow. She is survived by her husband Dexter, her two children, Brian and Becky, her granddaughter Emily, her mother Barbara Dow, her sisters Marjorie and Andrea, her brother Robert, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local food bank, The Childrens Place, or the Willow Library.