Linda Bennett

Linda Joy Bennett January 1, 1961 – June , 2017 Linda Joy Bennett passed peacefully at Hope West Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction, CO after a courageous fight with stomach cancer on June , 2017 She was born January 1, 1961 in Glacier County, Montana to Gaylan and Beverly Sinclair. Linda was a registered and proud member of the Black Feet Indian tribe of Northern Montana. As a child, Linda learned the way of the Black Feet and was a regular dancer and participant of their powwows and events. She was proud to be a Native American. Linda’s early education was on the Black Foot reservation, through high school. She went to the University of North Dakota on scholarship in pre-med and wanted to be a doctor. She decided to get her master’s degree in psychology and completed her undergraduate degree in business administration. She taught and worked at UND for 20 years before joining the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation where she worked as a scholarship counselor, finding native American children a way to a better life through education. She then moved to Denver and worked with College Invest helping students find a better life through a college education. She met her husband, Larry Bennett in 2002 via a mutual friend in Denver who operated an antique store. Larry traveled from Grand Junction to Denver a few times a month looking for and collecting African artifacts. Linda was a regular customer of the same store. After a few months of encouragement, Larry finally sent Linda an email that she took her time to answer. Linda had never been married and was not looking for a serious relationship. Larry was a happy “batcher” traveling the world and enjoying all the fun things a bachelor does. After more than three months of emails and telephone calls they finally decided to set a date to meet face to face. It was love at first sight although they didn’t initially realize it. After three or four months of talking four to five times a day on the telephone they knew they had fallen in love. Linda moved to Grand Junction in the spring and Larry proposed to her in April in Marseille, France and they were married that September at Volcano Point on Maui at sunset. From that time on they were inseparable. They loved everything about each other and soon were completing each other’s sentences. They were together 24/7 from that day on. They spent many years traveling the world together through six continents and more than 50 countries, all the time making memories together. They eventually settled down and bought a home on Banderas Bay near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They lived there for three years waking up each morning to the surf, dolphins, whales and seagulls. Life was good and they so loved Mexico, its customs and way of life. On a trip back to the U.S. to see Larry’s children, they were hiking in the La Sal Forest in eastern Utah. During the hike, Larry asked Linda “if you could do anything in the world, what would you want to do?” Linda thought about it for a while and said, “I will get back to you on that one.” Several weeks later, while back in paradise in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, they were sitting on their patio watching the sunset. Linda approached Larry and asked if he remembered asking her if there was anything she wanted to do with her life. When Larry answered yes, Linda said, “I want to move back to Grand Junction and go to nursing school and become a hospice nurse.” They soon realized after moving back to Grand Junction, that Linda’s true calling was to be a hospice nurse. Colorado Mesa University accepted all of her academic credits from UND and she was accepted into the nursing program. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and began working at Hope West where she soon became one of the happy Hope West family. She so loved her job, taking care of the dying and loving and supporting their families. She worked with some incredible people. She looked forward to going to work every day. She was born with a giving heart. Linda is survived by her husband Larry; father, Gaylan Sinclair; three sisters, Gayl, Violet and Beverly; two step children, John (Jessie) Bennett and Jenny (Bohdan) Sibl; and five grandchildren (Brackston and Taylor Bennett and Tyler, Jaden and Dillon Sibl). Linda so loved their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother, Beverly Sinclair. A celebration of Linda’s amazing life will be held at the Hospice Center Courtyard, lower level, on Friday, July 14th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. All family and friends are welcome to join and share your memories of this wonderful woman. BBQ ribs, beef brisket sandwiches, drinks, plates and utensils will be provided. We ask that people bring their favorite side dish to share with others (please use disposable containers and serving utensils if possible). Instead of cards, flowers or gifts please make a generous donation to Hope West Hospice Care Center, 3039 North 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506 in memory of Linda Bennett. Linda’s spirit animal is a red dragonfly; watch for her, talk to her, ask her for help and guidance, tell her you love her; for she loved us all. In the original Blackfeet language there is not the word good bye, it’s see you soon.

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