Linda Louise (Percival) Braaten, 70, of Austin, Minnesota, died at home Wednesday morning, Sept. 20, 2017, following a long battle with cancer. She was surrounded by loving family in her final days.

Linda was born on May 16, 1947, at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin, to Donald and Oney Percival. On April 16, 1966, Linda married Douglas Carl Braaten, also of Austin. She was an amazing friend, a nurturer, and a supporter of most everyone she met and cared about. She was a gifted homemaker in her early years, and a beloved mother to her daughter Heather, and her son, Jamie. Later, she took work with the Austin Public Schools doing various jobs in food service. She loved being around kids every day and trying to make them smile. She made amazing lifelong friends during her time with the schools, and cherished their company right to the end. Her favorite hobbies included reading, gardening, and collecting all things having to do with angels. She was well known for her spotless home and her breathtaking flower displays. Later in life, her greatest joy came from loving, and helping to raise her six grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Douglas Braaten of Austin; her daughter, Heather (Braaten) Biwer of Austin; her son, Jamie (Traci) Braaten of Austin; brothers, David (Mary Lou) Percival of Maplewood, Minnesota, and John Percival of Austin; and her six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Oney; her brother, Jim Percival of Austin; her sister, Josephine Percival of Austin; and her grandson, Colton Biwer.

A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Austin, with the Rev. Chad Johnson officiating. Family will greet friends one hour before the service in the atrium/narthex, outside of the sanctuary, beginning at 4 p.m. Fellowship and a light meal will follow the memorial service.

There will be no interment. Linda held a strong belief that something positive should be done with her remains, and thus they have been donated to the Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota.

In lieu of gifts, memorials are preferred to The Hormel Institute for Cancer Research.