Linda Fern (Croft) Maser, widow of Virgil Maser, left this world to be with Jesus on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. She was born Linda Fern Croft in Larned, Kansas on November 17, 1933, daughter of Royal (R.O.) and Blanch (Wheeler) Croft of Hodgeman County. She was the youngest of four children.
She must have liked Virgil because she eloped May 16, 1952 and married him again 50 years later at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Great Bend, KS, surrounded by her children, friends and family. They lived a short time in Hodgeman County then Hutchinson, Kansas but spent the better part of their life together in Great Bend, Kansas. They were married for 62 years and raised eight children.
Linda was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She “could get lost in a book” and her love for reading lasted a lifetime. She was second in her eighth grade graduating class and the Bazine High School Class of ’51 Salutatorian. She was active in 4-H where she learned to sew. And if she got it wrong, her mom would rip it out and make her do it again! She was most proud of her blue ribbons for sheep, sewing and cooking. She continued the 4-H legacy with her own children. She attended Fort Hays State University for one year.
Linda was a restaurant owner—the original “Granny” from Granny’s Kitchen—seamstress, painter/artist, quilter, and a thrifty entrepreneur. Over the years, she made and sold care bears, her paintings, denim quilts and offered the community a traveling baked goods shop where everything was delicious and fresh! She had a love for music from stepping out on the dance floor and kicking up some dust to her beautiful soprano vocals at church.
She knew that life would never be handed to her—she’d have to go out and get it. Her advice was to “turn things that trouble you over to God and if he thinks they need fixed he’ll go the last mile.”
After her mother passed away, Linda cared for her father for nine years in her Great Bend home. Once their children were living life, she and Virgil would travel for Shaklee conventions and bowling trips. They visited New York City, Washington D.C., the Caribbean and Hawaii amongst many other cities and sites throughout the U.S.
After Virgil passed in 2013, Linda lived with her daughter and son-in-law near Pawnee Rock, Kansas. She enjoyed the farm life.
Survivors include, her children, Michael Maser (Mary), El Paso, TX, Daniel Maser (Carol), Great Bend, Cindy Rogers, Rush Center, Benjamin Maser (Marisa), Hutchinson, Laura Straub (Travis), Pawnee Rock, Sandra Geschwentner (Brent), Belle Plaine, DeAnna Maser (Santo), Palm Harbor, FL, and daughter-in-law Shirley Maser, Seward; seventeen grandchildren: Brian and Michelle; Shannon, Dal, Christopher and Brandon; Joseph and Jeanna; Amanda, Matthew and Dakota; Brandon, Allyson and Grant; Joshua, Jordan and Jacob; and more than a dozen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by twin daughters, Jeannie and Janet; her parents; her husband, Virgil Maser; a son, Kim Ivan Maser; and siblings Nina, Loren and Maxine.
Linda lived many years with dementia—but it did not define her. She could often be found smiling, singing “Clementine,” or playing a unique combo of “Chop Sticks” and “How Great Thou Art.” She is loved and will be missed.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, October 31, 2021 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 1, 2021, at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend, with Reverend Tim Bever and Pastor Tim Singleton presiding. Interment will be in Burdett Cemetery, Burdett. Memorials have been designated to RSVP, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.