Linda Belle (Haviland) Morris
Linda Belle (Haviland) Morris stepped into the light of our Heavenly Father’s arms on Sunday, August 5, 2018, after a long and courageous battle with Huntington’s disease, the same hereditary illness that claimed her mother’s life in 1979.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2018, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 477 E. Honeysuckle Ave., Dalton Gardens, Idaho. Linda’s earthly remains will rest at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls, Idaho, near her mother, two sisters, and niece.
Linda Belle was born near Lightning Creek in Clark Fork, Idaho, to Bertha Evelyn Kendall and Homer Haviland on May 27, 1943.
She grew up in North Idaho, and Montana, living wherever her mama found work cooking and cleaning in logging camps and mining towns. Much of her childhood was spent exploring Burke canyon outside of Wallace Idaho, and floating the Bull River in Montana with her beloved pet duck, Carter.
She left Idaho as a young teenager, traveling the country and staying with relatives for several years, eventually drawn to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, and Southern California. She spent time working in casinos, and modeling, worked for Fess Parker, was Miss Rancho Santa Barbara, and eventually found herself working in the home of Bob Hope. In 1965, she moved back to the mountains of North Idaho, where she made her home for the next 53 years.
She was honored to meet Mr. Elvis Presley after his 1973 performance in Spokane, Wash., where he unsuccessfully attempted to obtain her telephone number. I bet he has it now.
While working as a dental assistant, she was introduced to the love of her life, and they married on May 3, 1975, at Cataldo Mission in the pouring rain. Richard’s passion for the outdoors took her on many adventures into the Selway Bitteroot, and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness areas on horse-packing trips. Ultimately, the psychological destruction that comes with Huntington’s disease was too much for the relationship to survive; but the memories were always held close to Linda’s heart, and she never stopped loving her husband.
Linda had nomad feet and wandering toes. She traveled extensively with anyone she could convince to get in the car. She drove that maroon Cadillac sedan from one ocean to the other a hundred times if it was once. She flew to Australia and camped with Aborigines in the outback with Lisa. She hiked Copper Canyon on a weeks-long road trip to Mazatlán, Mexico, with Monie. She visited South Padre Island with Mindy and the girls. Anywhere there was the promise of sunshine, she was happy to come along.
Linda Belle was preceded in death by her mother and father, and siblings Leitoi Isabelle Behrens, Harold Joyce Pratt, Gordon Blaine Pratt, Kenneth Kendall Pratt, Oliver Haviland, William Haviland, Howard Haviland, and Leta Marie Battreal. She leaves behind her three beautiful children: Sons Eric Lee Morris and Coeurd K. Morris, daughter Monica Alene (Lang) Sumner, Granddaughter Caitlyn Jane (Kyle) Martinson, Great Grandson Kodah Ray Martinson, sister LaDonna (Ron) Webb, brother Harry (Nancy) Haviland, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends whom all loved her deeply and will miss her sense of humor, charismatic personality and captivating smile. She truly was one of a kind, and she left a mark in the hearts of so many.
She was a noble and marvelous woman and she will be truly, truly missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations you are inspired to give be directed to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America; or locally to North Idaho Hospice. We would like to thank Maplewood Assisted Living for taking such loving care of our mother, sister, and friend in her last days with us.