Gibbs' community dedication earns WOW nod

Born and raised in Dover, Linda Gibbs recalls an idyllic childhood.

Since those days, she married her high school sweetheart, Joe Gibbs, and went on to have a successful career with the U.S. Forest Service.

But that is only the tip of a life of community dedication that earned Gibbs the distinction of being named a Woman of Wisdom by the Women Honoring Women Committee.

In selecting the women to be honored with the committee's Lifetime Achievement Award as a Woman of Wisdom, the committee looks for women with vision, who achieve goals through collaboration, who love to learn, who are leaders, who are committed to serving our community, who inspire others, and who face life’s challenges with grace and courage. Linda Gibbs exemplifies each of these qualities. 

Linda was born and raised in Dover. She attended school in Sandpoint. Linda remembers her childhood, growing up in and around Lake Pend Oreille, as “idyllic.” She married her high school sweetheart, Joe Gibbs, the summer between her junior and senior year of high school and laughingly recalls being the only student whose husband was the one who signed her final report cards. After high school, both Linda and Joe were hired by the United States Forest Service. Linda started her career as a lowly clerk/typist. Thirty-four years later she retired as the chief financial officer for the Custer National Forest. 

Linda attributes her rise through the mostly male ranks at the Forest Service to continually striving to be the best she could be. She earned multiple performance awards for outstanding service. In addition to her regular job, she worked as the finance section chief on an inter-agency incident command team responsible for all expenditures for payroll, vendor payments, and contract support activities for wildfires throughout the United States. This job also involved Linda in the Columbia Space Shuttle recovery in 2003. Throughout her career, Linda worked to mentor and inspire young women to achieve higher levels within the Forest Service.

After retiring from the Forest Service, Linda and Joe returned to Dover. Linda quickly immersed herself back into the community. One of her first stops was with the Community Assistance League, first as a volunteer, then as first secretary and eventually as treasurer. Linda served on the Dover Urban Renewal Board and is the Dover election precinct captain. She is a member of Beta Sigma Phi, a women’s philanthropic society, a Lost in the '50s volunteer and a member of the Sandpoint Sailing Association. For over a decade, Linda has volunteered a day a week at the Bonner Community Food Bank. 

“What truly distinguishes Linda is her remarkable ability to connect with individuals and families facing food insecurity," food bank executive director Debbie Love said in her nomination letter. "Linda approaches every interaction with empathy, kindness, and respect, creating a welcoming and supportive environment in our market for those in need. She has assisted 1000s of families throughout her time at the food bank. Whether she is offering a listening ear, providing encouragement, or lending a helping hand, Linda consistently demonstrates the highest level of compassion and understanding.” 

Gibbs said her proudest accomplishment is her 56-year love affair with her husband Joe, and their two children, Matt and Marcy, and four grandchildren. When she is not volunteering, Linda may be found golfing at the Elks Club with her grandson, Issac, sailing on Lake Pend Oreille, playing mahjong, directing a play, or indulging in her love of singing. 

Gibbs and her fellow recipients will be honored June 15 at a gala brunch celebrating the five 2024 Women of Wisdom and the 25th anniversary of the Women Honoring Women organization. Reservations will be accepted until June 7 from Diane Stockton at 208-290-6362 or stockton_diane@yahoo.com.