Linda Hamilton (nee Larson) 1957-2025

Linda Hamilton, of Spring Lake Park, MN, passed away peacefully at home on July 6th after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was a loving daughter, mother, and grandmother. She and her soulmate Tom just celebrated 50 years of marriage in June.

Linda was born in Minneapolis, MN in 1957 to Jim and Glenna Larson and spent her summers on her grandfather’s farm in Long Prairie, MN. Linda attended Spring Lake Park High School before studying nursing at Winona State University. She started her nursing career at St. Paul Ramsey (now Regions), then moved to Minneapolis Children’s in 1987 where she worked for 32 years, specializing in NICU and then ECMO.

She was a fierce leader who was dedicated to nurses, the nursing profession and patient advocacy, serving as the President of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) from 2009-2015. She helped form National Nurses United (NNU), the largest nursing union in the US. She was a ball of energy committed to workers’ rights, quality healthcare, and social advocacy.

Linda loved scuba diving, painting, gardening, and camping. She travelled every chance she got, but always had a special place in her heart for Germany where her and Tom forged an unbreakable bond with kindred spirit Elizabeth and her family while living there for the first year and a half of their marriage.

Linda was preceded in death by her father Jim, and is survived by her mother Glenna, brother Rick (spouse Lynn), husband Tom, children Shawn and Cassie (spouse Bill), and grandchildren Chris, John, and Ellie.

Rest in power Linda. Your legacy will continue to live on and inspire us all to make the world a better place