Linda Lou Hagedorn, age 82, of Tea SD passed away Friday, January 19, 2024.

Linda is survived by her husband of 55 years, Otto; children, Debra (Dan), Valarie (John), Sara (Brian), Monty (Amy), Mindy (Dave), Karen (Jim), and Kody.

Linda leaves behind 17 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers Michael, David (Darlene), and sisters Donna and Patty (Jerry).

She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Vada Smith, her brother Gary, and sister Vivian.

Linda was born In Irvington, Nebraska on May 18, 1941. Linda graduated from Benson High School in 1959.  She married James Holmgren in 1960. They had 3 daughters.  She married Otto Hagedorn in 1968 and had 2 children.

Linda enjoyed a lengthy career with Tupperware. She started in 1961 as a “Tupperware Lady” and progressed to management. By 1976, she had become a distributor, relocating the family to Sioux Falls and in 1977 established the Lakota Party Sales in Tea.  Linda retired from Tupperware after an impressive 53-year career. In 1997 Linda was offered the opportunity to launch Tupperware in India. There she was a trainer and recruiter, contributing to the company’s first generation of saleswomen in India.

Beyond professional endeavors, Linda actively participated in various community organizations and services. Those included 4-H, Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, LaSertoma, Lions Club, Red Hat, Sioux Empire Fair along with other county fairs, and Future Homemakers Association program. She volunteered as Mrs. Claus each year for the Sertoma Kids Pizza Christmas Party.

Linda had dreamed of bringing a Christmas pageant to life. In 1977, along with the Prairie Hills Covenant Church (Evangelical Covenant Church) Linda helped create “Journey to Bethlehem”, a live nativity reenactment on the family farm. This annual event grew steadily, attracting thousands of people till the final year in 2008.

Linda’s passion for cooking came naturally from her mother. Linda took those family recipes to television where she hosted “Down Home Delights” cooking show. KELOLAND Television sponsored and aired the show along with Tupperware and Hy-Vee.  Linda later went on to create 2 cookbooks with her recipes.

After her return from India and with her love of fashion, she worked at Steinmart and Younkers directing the fashion shows for several years.

Another of Linda’s ventures came with the creation of the Lakota Events Hall.  Her vision of turning the former Tupperware warehouse into an event venue for weddings, birthdays, reunions, and any celebration you could imagine.

Linda was honored by SME Women in Business, Sertoma’s Best Friend Award, LaSertoman of the year and the Jefferson Award. She and Otto were honored as Ma and Pa, of Tea Pot Days in Tea, SD.

Linda cherished her relationships, and everyone was a friend, a neighbor or family.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Tea Volunteer Fire Department or the Alzheimer Association.

Services are as follows:

Visitation with family present will be held at Lakota Events Hall, 46954 272nd St, Tea, SD on Thursday, January 25, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM

Funeral Service will be held at Lakota Events Hall, 46954 272nd St, Tea, SD on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at the Tea Lutheran Cemetery immediately after the Funeral Service.  Please join the family at the Lakota Events Hall after the burial to eat, celebrate and share memories of this amazing woman.

Funeral arrangement and a full obituary are provided by Anderson Jones Corcoran Funeral Home.