Gerlinde Theresia Stephens

Gerlinde (Linda) Theresia Stephens was born on August 11, 1938 in Ansbach, Germany, the only child of Peter and Maria Theresia Gabsteiger. Linda was baptized as an infant at the same church in which her parents were married, St. Ludwig Catholic Church in Ansbach, where later she received first Holy Communion and confirmation. Linda lived a full life that taught her to be resilient in the face of change. As a little girl growing up in Ansbach she experienced the love and comfort of her parents and her grandparents, Michael and Theresia Schopf. After her father passed away in 1943, her Mother married Adolf Hubl. This union provided Linda with her only and much-loved sibling, Gunter, in 1950. Educated in Ansbach, she moved with her family to Darmstadt, Germany, in 1953 where she became a certified dental assistant. There she met and married a young American soldier from Wayne County Michigan, Vero Donald Beattie, in 1960. While still living in Germany she gave birth to Mike that same year and Linda in 1962. She came to the United States with her new family in 1963 and lived for a short time in Fargo, North Dakota, before her husband was transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for two years. It was during that time that Linda gave birth to her third child, James, in 1965. When her husband was deployed on his first tour of duty in Vietnam, Linda and her children moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, to be closer to his family. It was here that Linda earned her United States Citizenship; something she was intensely proud of for the rest of her life. Linda and the family returned to Fort Wood a year later, moving off post to St. Robert when her husband was sent to Vietnam for a second time. After Vero Donald passed away in 1971 due to illness during his third tour in Vietnam, Linda chose to remain in the U.S. rather than return to Germany. She purchased a house in St. Robert in which to lovingly raise her three children. In 1986, Linda met, fell in love with, and married Larry (Steve) Stephens, with whom she toured the western United States on the back of a motorcycle. After her children left for college and Steve passed away in 1993, she remained in the Fort Wood area for most of the remainder of her life and was an active member of the St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church Parish and Altar and Rosary Society, serving as its president for a year. She made many friends in the parish and the greater Ft. Leonard Wood community and often spoke fondly of them in her later years. After suffering a stroke in 2013, Linda continued to live in her house for a few years but would eventually move to assisted living facilities in Rolla, Missouri. Linda loved to tell stories about her hijinks as a little girl (such as pilfering apples with her playmates from a local farmer’s tree) and how her strong-willed grandmother would always come to her defense. Linda ABSOLUTELY LOVED her home, family and holidays! She was never happier than when she was hosting a family barbeque on a hot and muggy Fourth of July day, planning an Easter egg hunt for her grandchildren, or celebrating Christmas with a family dinner and time around a brightly lit tree. A consummate homemaker, she always did her best to bring her family together on such occasions. Flower gardening, music, art, theatre and her friends gave her a great deal of happiness. She was always tolerant of the varied and numerous pets her children acquired as they grew up. Linda quietly passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, December 18, 2024, in the Phelps Health Hospital having attained the age of 86 years. Her smile and love of life, friends, and family will be remembered in the hearts and minds of all who truly knew her. Linda leaves behind three children: Mike William Beattie (Connie) of Waynesville, MO; Linda Maria Theresia Kelly (August) of St. James, MO; and James Vero Beattie (Barbara) of Ashland, MO. Her grandchildren include Candis DiAnn Pannell (Jared) of Olathe, KS; Shawn Collins Livingston of St. Louis, MO; Lillian Alice Shipp (Noah) of Ellsworth AFB, SD; Lucille Marie Beattie (Mamie) of Kansas City, KS; Michael Andrew Beattie of Springfield, MO; and Ethan James Beattie of Springfield, MO. Her dearly loved great-grandchildren are Lydia Faye Pannell, Charlotte Grace Pannell, Rise Adonis Livingston and Kayden Vero Shipp. Of her German relatives, she leaves behind one brother, Günter Hübl (Marion); a niece, Christine Noss (Michael) and her son Moritz; and a former sister-in-law, Karola Kreuzer. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and Grandparents. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 28, 2024 in the St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church of St. Robert, Missouri with Father Michael Murphy officiating. Serving as lectors were Ethan James Beattie and Linda Pinckley. Music was provided by Evelyn Horine, Suzanne Bascher, Charlene O'Neill, and Mary Letcher. The hymns were "Beautiful Savior", "Amazing Grace", "I Am the Bread of LIfe", "Ave Maria", "Song of Farewell" and "On Eagle's Wings". Serving as escorts were Michael Andrew Beattie, Noah Matthew Shipp, Ethan James Beattie, Jared Lee Pannell, Shawn Collins Livingston, Mike William Beattie, and James Vero Beattie. Serving as honorary escorts were August Kenneth Kelly and Günter Hübl. Burial followed in the Resurrection Cemetery of St. Robert, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Gerlinde Stephens and may be left at Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville / St. Robert.

Gerlinde Theresia Stephens

August 11, 1938 - December 18, 2024