A Matriarchal Legacy: With a lot of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Linda has had the opportunity to impact the lives of many, and she continues to do so every day

She’s admired for her long-suffering, her patience, and the sacrifices she makes for everyone. She is a highly relational, compassionate, loving matriarch who would do anything for anyone. She is super kind and entrepreneurial-minded too, and everything about her is just truly amazing.

For countless reasons, Linda Honerkamp is loved by her family. She is someone who means the world to them all, and her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren cannot say enough great things about their matriarch.

“She’s as kind and compassionate as you can imagine,” Linda’s son Nick said. “She never takes the spotlight. She’s always in the background making sure everyone has what they need. She’s a martyr to a fault. She runs a great business. She was a stay-at-home mom. She is a great wife. She is a great mother of five.”

Linda is a living example of what it truly means to be sacrificial. She does not ever worry about herself before others, and she is always making sure people are taken care of in the midst of it all.

She is a life lesson fiend too, and you could fill a book with all the morals and values she instilled upon her family over the years… and it still wouldn’t be enough. She is a faithful, devoted woman who lives life the right way, and her kids are much better off in life because of what they have learned from their mother.

“There’s a quiet kind of strength in the way my mom loves,” her daughter Moriah said. “It’s not loud or showy—it’s in the way she remembers the little things—the way she always knows when something’s wrong, even when I haven’t said a word. Her love is steady, comforting, and always there.”

Tony, Nick, Todd, Nature and Moriah know they could not do it without their mother. She has been that steady force in their lives for as long as they can remember, and even to this day they still look back at all the wisdom she instilled in them.

They also love the fact that she has a great relationship with all their kids, as well as some of their kids’ kids. Nathan, Zachary, Caleb, Hayden, Connor, Cara, Lauren, Blaine, Isaac, Carleigh and Lily love how their grandmother always shows up for them. Just like she was their parent’s biggest supporter throughout the years, she is also their biggest cheerleader and the one person they know will not shy away from teaching them the difficult lessons too.

“She has 11 grandkids,” Nick said. “Thanksgiving’s her favorite holiday. When the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids get together. She just sits there, spending time with them and teaching them. With all generations, she is telling stories and teaching them. She will always give the grandkids love. She will stop and pay attention to them, no matter what is happening.”

That is not just the case for the grandkids either. Rainer, Oaklen, Makai, Ava Mae, Rylan and Lila love the special moments they get to share with their great-grandmother, and they cherish all the memories they get to look back on.

Of course, like mentioned before, the lessons Linda’s family has learned over the years are countless. From how to be a dependable and sacrificial wife to how to live your life for Christ, the Honerkamp clan is who they are because of their mother.

“She’s taught me so many valuable life skills: cooking and sewing,” Moriah said. “I love that we made two of my prom dresses and my wedding dress together. Her patience and attention to detail showed me that creating something by hand is a way of showing love.”

In fact, that mindset is part of what sparked Linda’s entrepreneurial mindset. She ran many businesses over the years – from a cleaning business, multiple seamstress businesses, a baking business, and flipping rental properties – and she put her love, time and passion into each of those businesses while running her household smoothly.

“I admire her entrepreneur spirit and how she used her talents and skills to meet any need,” Moriah said. “She has done everything from having a baby in a log cabin in the woods (that she helped build) to owning several personal businesses.”

And at the center of every facet of Linda’s life is her big heart. She made a positive impact on many people through her businesses, and she has been a positive presence in the lives of many of her friends and family.

“She is so kind,” Nick said. “Mom has a great eye for noticing what people need. She cleans. She will sit and talk if they need a friend. She just has a great eye for what people need and is great at meeting people’s needs.”

That’s just who Linda is. She loves people so much and wants what is best for them all, and she is constantly making sure they are all taken care of.

She is a true matriarch in every sense of the word, and her family just wants to remind her that she is loved beyond measure on more than just Mother’s Day. She is loved, cherished and appreciated every day, and Linda should be proud of the family she raised.

“Every challenge you’ve faced; every sacrifice you’ve made; every moment you chose love, strength and perseverance—it all matters. You’ve built so much with your hands, your heart, and your hope.  Be proud of all you’ve done. You’ve touched lives, shaped futures, and created a legacy of love that continues to grow.” – Nick & Moriah Honerkamp