Linda Vanderburgh

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Linda Vanderburgh (née Johnson) of Dauphin, Manitoba, on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at the age of 80 years.

Linda was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba, on August 17, 1945, to Roy Johnson and Mae Petch, who were grain farmers on a family-owned century farm outside of town. She attended school in Minnedosa, where she made many lifelong friends.

After completing Grade 12 in 1963, Linda trained as a Laboratory and X-ray Technician and later worked in the lab at the Dauphin hospital.

As a young woman, Linda loved music and dancing. Her favourites included songs by Elvis Presley. Linda met her future husband, Dave Vanderburgh, at a curling bonspiel dance in 1962, and they were married in 1965 at the United Church in Minnedosa. They first lived in Winnipeg, where daughter Debbie was born in 1966 at the old Grace Hospital. Due to Dave’s job with Manitoba Hydro, they relocated to Neepawa and then on to Dauphin in 1968—a community that would remain home for the rest of their lives.

In the 1980s, Linda began a new career as a Travel Agent with Odyssey Travel, a role that perfectly suited her outgoing personality and love of exploring the world. She especially enjoyed helping customers plan their vacation adventures and going on “fam trips” herself to experience wonderful destinations in Canada, such as Quebec City, and farther away to Mexico and Europe. Many of her favourite photos and memories came from those journeys, as well as the vacations she and Dave took together to Hawaii, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean.

Linda and Dave shared 48 years together until his passing in 2014. They built a full life in Dauphin and were active members of the community including through service clubs like the Kinsmen, Kinettes, K40s, as well as Hydro-X and delivering Meals-on-Wheels. For both Linda and Dave, their happy place was at Hills Camp, where family and friends gathered for fishing, waterskiing, days on the lake and laughter around the campfire in the evenings. Linda had a good sense of humor and had fun socializing with friends or sitting on the deck watching everyone who passed by. Like her husband, she loved birdwatching, especially the ruby-throated hummingbirds and bright orange orioles that came to drink from the fresh oranges she put out for them.

Linda loved animals, especially cats, and always had a soft spot for the pets who shared her life. She liked sports, from cheering on Debbie in fastball tournaments “back in the day,” to her lifelong passion for curling. Linda curled for decades in the Dauphin Ladies Curling Club and later followed the sport enthusiastically on television.

After Debbie and her family moved from Ottawa to Winnipeg in 2016 to be closer to her, Linda appreciated the care they gave and the time they shared together—especially at Christmas and during summers at the lake. Over the past nine years, she faced many health challenges, including osteoporosis, two broken hips, and an issue with her heart. Despite these difficulties, Linda showed resilience, making remarkable recoveries with the support of her family and friends. Linda enjoyed spending time online, reading Facebook, posting regularly, and staying connected with so many friends. She took real pleasure in keeping up with everyone’s news.

She will be remembered with love by her daughter Debbie Vanderburgh, son-in-law Curtis Hamill, and grandson Daniel Hamill of Winnipeg; cousins-in-law Betty and Barrie Wood of Brandon; as well as many dear friends. And of course she’ll be missed by Mr. Mike, her big grey cat.

Linda was predeceased by her beloved husband Dave Vanderburgh, her parents Roy and Mae Johnson, and her aunt Marvell and uncle Charlie Carlson as well as aunt Nellie and Uncle John Borgstrom. Linda’s name will be added to the stone monument alongside those dear members of her family in the historic Smoland Cemetery.

A Funeral Service was held for Linda on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. from the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre in Dauphin with Rev. Steve Wilson officiating.

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Linda may be made to the Parkland Humane Society in Dauphin.

The service will be live streamed for those that are unable to attend.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Linda Vanderburgh, please visit our floral store.