Lynda K. Petrie

Lynda Petrie, long-time resident of St. Paul, died April 2 with family at her side after a brief illness. The eldest of three children, she grew up in St. Paul, MN, after spending her infant years in Mohall, N.D. She graduated from Monroe High school and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and a Masters Degree in Geography at the University of Minnesota.

Lynda lived a long, rich life filled with passionate pursuits. She loved to travel and roamed across the globe visiting Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Middle East and a wide range of countries in Europe. Just last August she traveled alone, as was her style, to the United Kingdom and Ireland to be with dear friends.

Along with travel, she loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren and her great grandson. She was the upholder and guardian of many family traditions, including holiday meals that included “Norwegian/Viking” meatballs, her famous wild rice and a special salmon filet decorated with red and green for Christmas. She kept track of everyone’s birthday and milestone celebrations, including what she described as her “extended family” which included important people that the family had come to know over the decades. At the start of each month, she would send out a note marking every important date.

One of her favorite trips was to Tromso, Norway, where her maternal grandfather had been born before eventually emigrating to Minnesota. She loved the far north Midnight Sun and connecting with relatives that she’d corresponded with throughout her life. One of her prized Christmas gifts was the annual Tromso Calendar, which arrived each year without fail and held a place of honor in her kitchen.

She loved her independence. After getting her Masters in Geography, she moved on her own in the early 1990s to Washington, D.C., to work on aeronautical charting for NOAA. After a few years, the pull of growing grandchildren brought her back to St. Paul. She then worked at Barr Engineering until she retired at 70.

She had a passion for the arts, holding season tickets to the Minnesota Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera and The Guthrie Theater and attended numerous other cultural events. Along with attending performances, she loved to make things. An accomplished knitter, she made scarves, shawls and submitted several items to the Minnesota State Fair where she won several ribbons. In addition, she knit the Christmas Stockings for all her kids and grandkids.

Given her love of maps, she had a nearly surreal ability to sense direction. Walking in an enclosed building, she’d point one way and say “that’s north.” She forbade her children from getting GPS in their vehicles, believing the art of finding your own way mattered most.

She also cherished driving a manual transmission vehicle. She joked that it was the best theft prevention device created. Last October, when she was 88, the Kowalski’s Carry-Out kid said “Wow, a Honda Fit with a stick shift! How Very Cool.” Also, since valets couldn’t drive a stick, she always got free parking.

While quiet in many ways, her determination wasn’t to be underestimated. After getting divorced, she didn’t take back her maiden name. Instead, she searched the family tree for a woman’s last name that she liked, landing on Petrie. Following that, with two young boys still at home, she put herself through graduate school, getting her Masters degree in Geography after her 50th birthday and forging a career in that field. Often, she’d remark, she was the only women in a room full of cartographers and took understandable pride in her pathbreaking achievements. Her life set an example for her children and grandchildren. One of her grand-daughters often remarked “You know, grandma is a badass.”

Through her great achievements, her travel, her loving kindness to her family, she also liked the quiet moments. She loved to read -- her condo had stacks of books all around her. She enjoyed watching British television. And she lovingly tended to her plants all year round, getting her grandkids to help haul them out in summer and back inside in winter.

While a woman of hearty Norwegian and Scottish stock, she barely tolerated winter but loved high heat and humidity. She never had an air conditioner in her home and wasn’t happy when ACs became standard in cars. When a scorching, moist day arrived in summer, her kids would mutter “Mom is loving it today.”

Lastly, she will always be remembered for her zest for life, worn modestly. She was always exploring, learning and discovering. Without realizing it, she inspired people she barely knew, especially women. And for her family, she set a powerful example of unflinching love, generosity and taking in the joy of the next day. After a long life well lived, her influence will carry on for many decades to come.

Lynda Kathryn Petrie is survived by her sister, Daryl Beadle. She is also survived by her four children: Kathy Thompson, Narrah Palmquist (Jamie), Dave Kansas and Lance Kansas (Becca). She is survived by ten grandchildren: Grace Zahrt-Thompson (Shane), Gwynneth Thompson (Matt), Hunter Thompson, Ian Palmquist, Ray Palmquist (Pano), Joey Palmquist, Emma Kansas, Drew Kansas, Henry Kansas and Mimi Kansas. And one great-grandchild, Norman Zahrt-Thompson. Other survivors include dear nieces and nephews as well as treasured friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Delmar & Agnes “Bernie” Gillespie and her brother, Dee Gillespie (Jeanne).

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 25 at Central Presbyterian Church, 500 Cedar St., St. Paul. with visitation from 10 - 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow the service. Private interment Roselawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the following organizations are encouraged: The FCNL education Fund (Peacebuilding Efforts), Keystone Community Services (Community Support) and the John R. Borchert Map Library Fund of the University of Minnesota Foundation (Geography Education).