Lynda Ann (Metzer-Stansell) Gilbertson passed away quietly August 2, 2023 in her home with her family beside her. Her home and family were very important to her and it was a blessing she was able to spend her last days at home with the people she loved and loved her.

She celebrated her 80th birthday party a few short days before her death, and narrowly avoided catastrophe while blowing out the 80 candles she had requested on her birthday cake! She always enjoyed a gathering and we are so thankful she was able to participate in this final farewell!

Lynda was born "Linda" Metzer in Sugar City, Idaho July 30, 1943. As a teen she decided to change the spelling of her name, as there was another Linda in her class.  Lynda was one-of-a-kind and wasn't partial to confusion about that.

At 3 years of age she went to live with her grandmother Helena Metzer in Homedale, ID. Grandma taught her to work hard. Lynda milked cows, sold eggs, and worked on nearby farms in the fields and orchards. In high school she was sewing her own clothes.

She had a sharp wit which may have gotten her into trouble on occasion. She was voted class clown her senior year of school. She also participated in many school clubs and activities.

In 1961 she married Keith Stansell, with whom she had 3 children. During that time she enjoyed sewing and made many outfits for her children to wear, bribing them with candy to parade down the runway in the pageants put on by her Sorority, Beta Sigma Phi.

She and Keith divorced in 1971 and in 1972 married Larry Gilbertson.  Between the two of them they had 6 children. In 1973 she gave birth to her last child, making it 7. She worked on the farm with Larry driving trucks for the harvesters, baby in tow, and spent hours canning vegetables and fruits for the family. In 1975 they moved to Huston, ID; then bounced to Bend, OR; Walla Walla, WA; Kennewick,WA; Marfa, TX; and back to Kennewick where she spent the last 40 years of her life flourishing as a single woman, breaking the glass ceiling, determined to provide a financially easier life for her children than the one she had.

Over her lifetime she worked hard on many farms, as a housewife, farm wife and mother; a waitress, a hospital secretary, an editor for a personal ads company, a tax consultant, a realtor, a financial advisor, and eventually returned to real estate, retiring at 70 years of age. She also took flying lessons, although she was unable to complete the training to get her pilot's license, which was one of her life's regrets. She had a passion for reading and passed this trait on to her children. She loved to golf, plant flowers,and travel the world.

Lynda was funny, generous, sometimes gruff, but ultimately filled with love, although she selectively used those words or gave out hugs. She frequently invited her single friends to Christmas and Thanksgiving, making sure no one spent holidays alone, and always enjoyed a party. She donated regularly to multiple charities, even when her pocket book was tight. She was quick to offer help, sharing her home to so many people over the years it is difficult to keep count. She was fiercely independent, stubborn, self-sacrificing, contrary, fun loving, and spicey.

Lynda was preceded in death by her beloved grandmother Helena (Schultz) Metzer, her parents Goldie (Taylor-Metzer) Brooks and Ardell Metzer, and a great-grandson Emmett Stansell. She is survived by her 4 children; Steven (Anne) Stansell, Michael (Carmen) Stansell, Kristi (Duane) Szendre, and Angela Jefferson; 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; her siblings John Metzer, David Brooks, Diana Lee, Donna Berger, Dick Metzer, and Sandy Seiber, and step brother David Williams.

Memorial services will be held Saturday August 26th, 11 a.m. at the Living Room Community Church, 1409 S. Garfield St. Kennewick,Wa. In Lieu of flowers please donate to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, or Fight CRC. Many thanks to Heartlinks Palliative and Hospice care.