Linda Deans Bartel
Linda Rhae Deans Bartel , wife of Kim Bartel, of Vernal, Utah passed away August 13, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born on February 20, 1958 to Rulon and Elva Mae Swett Deans. She was the youngest of five children. Her older siblings were David Allen Deans, Dallas R. Deans, Evelyn K. Deans Bergfeld, and Lauren Deans Ramirez.
Linda attended Uintah High School and received a scholarship to USU in Price, UT. She later transferred and graduated from Utah State in Logan with a BS in Education after also winning Nationals in Volleyball in which played as an Outside Hitter. She helped fund her education by working in wildland firefighting for both the USFS in Dutch John and for the Bureau of Land Management in Vernal, UT where while she, as the foreman on an all-girl engine crew, met the love of her life, Kim Bartel on an all male engine crew. They were married on June 6, 1981 in Vernal, Utah.
Linda’s hobbies included gardening vegetables and flowers, camping on the mountain, 4 wheeling, timesharing with family at new locations including Estes Park, searching for new recipes on the internet, unwinding after school days watching Murder She Wrote, Matlock and Judge Judy. She tried quilting and oil painting. She held numerous positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The most favorite of these were the teaching positions, the last being a facilitator for personal finance.
She dedicated most of her life to education. Her favorite being at the secondary level where she taught, coached and mentored students and athletes. She especially enjoyed to verbally banter with students. You always knew where you stood with her. She was direct and wasn’t afraid to confront those that were not responsible. She had a lasting influence with many students.
In her retirement, she enjoyed bumping into past students and athletes and chatting about the good old days and what they were doing with their lives.
Her children, John and Maggie were the light of her life. She was so proud of both of them; John for his love and devotion for his family, Maggie for her tenacity and sense of adventure to achieve anything she put her mind and ability to.
She embraced being a grandmother. She loved her grandchildren dearly. She especially enjoyed when they would visit and she would spend early mornings rocking them in her chair in the sunroom.
Linda is survived By: Husband Kim Bartel, children; John, (Jazmine Owens Bartel, wife), daughter Maggie, (Aaron Ogden Fiance), grandchildren; Jaiden, Jaxton, Jaymz, and Jaysin Bartel. Brother Dallas Deans, sister Kay Bergfeld. Numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: Father, Rulon Deans, Mother Elva Douglass, brother Allen Deans and sister Lauren Ramirez.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 11:30 A.M. at the Rock Point Cemetery (2000 West 2500 North). Please dress casual and bring lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on. A viewing will be held Saturday from 9-11 A.M. at the Ashley Valley Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Rock Point Cemetery under the direction of the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home.
In Lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Ashley Valley Food Pantry.
