Linda LaVon Nicklas, 80

Our loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend died on March 7, 2023, at her home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, surrounded by her family.

She was born Feb. 20, 1943, in Rock Springs, Wyo., to Leonard and Virginia Ferguson. Her paternal father passed away when she was 12 years old. Her mother then married William K. O’Brien who raised her and became the person she loved as her father.

Her family moved to Utah where she attended Davis High School. She would reside primarily in Centerville, Utah, until she relocated to Hayden Lake in 1989. She moved to Prichard, Idaho, in 2005. She moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2021 and remained there until she passed.

She held an MBA from Westminster University of Salt Lake City. She started her career with AT&T as an operator. Known then as Ma Bell is where she began her incredible advancement into leadership. She moved with AT&T during the company’s divestiture in 1984 working her way to Regional Sales Manager, covering 18 states, and managing a large sales team. At the time, she was only the 10th female nationwide to take on a fourth level management position. She was highly regarded as a diligent worker by her peers, and an exceptional supervisor by her people, and a true partner by her customers. She was recognized with countless awards including the AT&T Presidents Club. She retired from AT&T after 28 years in 1997. She then went on to found L.L. Promotions, a distributor of specialty marketing and advertising products which she ran until 2006.

She was active and enjoyed participating in community affairs. She was a member of the Red Hats, served on the Board of Directors for the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Hayden Chamber of Commerce, she was an officer in the 3Cs and a member of the Hayden Eagles Lodge. She was active for multiple charitable events, elections and fundraisers.

She loved to travel and has seen the world. She enjoyed golf, hiking, and watching football, basketball and baseball. She was a diehard Chicago Bears fan, Seattle Mariners fan and a huge Gonzaga fan. She was highly social, and loved to play games, which she did frequently! She was an active player with organized bridge and pinochle groups. She and her husband enjoyed supporting the Lake City Senior Center where they met and would make many wonderful new friends. They regularly attended lunch, and participated as members of the wine club, and other activities.

She married Richard Boyington in 1959 with whom she had her two daughters. They were later divorced. She married Harley John Hattenburg on Dec. 28, 2003. John Hattenburg had five children: Barbara (Terry) Streeter, Nancy (John) Munson, Larry (Connie) Hattenburg, Gary Hattenburg and Dave (Annette) Hattenburg. John Hattenburg passed away in June 2021. She married the new love of her life, John C. Nicklas on May 14, 2022. She was living her best life upon her death.

She is survived by her husband, John C. Nicklas; daughters Lisa (Richard) Winter of Boise, Idaho, and Carla (Marti) Boyington-Tobias of Palm Springs, Calif.; grandchildren Mila Cantil of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Teric (Bo) Smith, great-grandchildren Joshua and Samuel, Clarksville, Tenn.; and brother Gary (Lois) Obrien of Centerville, Utah; stepchildren Jeff (Diane) Nicklas and Julie (Brian) Strasse, and their children and grandchildren; along with many cherished cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Lamar Ferguson and his wife Alice, and Bob Ferguson; and her beloved dog, Sadie.

Linda’s passing is profound to everyone in her family. She will be missed by the many friends she held dear throughout her lifetime. She loved life and will be celebrated at a memorial at 3 p.m. Friday, April 14, 2023, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 North Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers, the family and by Linda’s request, ask that contributions be made to the 3Cs (Cancer & Community Charities) at ccc-northidaho.org.

Please visit Linda’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.