Linda Elizabeth Hom

Missoula - Linda Elizabeth Hom, 68, of Missoula, Montana died from lung cancer on May 17, 2022. She died at home and was surrounded by loving family and friends at her passing and throughout her 2-1/2 year struggle with this disease.  Linda was born April 3, 1954, in Hamilton, Montana, the youngest child of the late Harry Lee and Mary May Hom.

Linda was raised in Hamilton and graduated from Hamilton High School 1972. She was elected Homecoming Queen, Girls State Delegate, and to the National Honor Society. She attended the University of Oregon her freshman year, then transferred to the University of Montana and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and received an elementary teaching certificate. She taught in Missoula for two years, Seattle for four years, and Spokane for three years. She also worked summers for the Forest Service for five years as a habitat specialist and firefighter.

In 1985, Linda married Eric Kress and returned to the Missoula area in 1986. Linda began working as an interior designer for Trappings in Missoula. Later, Linda established her own business, Vintage Savvy, which focused on interior design and upgrading old furniture. She continued this business for approximately 20 years. 

Linda and Eric had a son, Peter, in 1990.  Linda was a devoted mother and had wanted to be a stay-at-home mom until Peter was kindergarten age. But she went “stir crazy” and went back to work after a year. This worked out great for everyone as Peter had a wonderful daycare experience at Fort Courage by Community Hospital.

Linda loved helping and spending time with her dad and mom at the Montana Cafe. At a young age she was nicknamed “Little Yak Yak” by the patrons. She enjoyed the holidays, gardening, cooking, shopping, tennis, and watching Gunsmoke and Tom Brady.

Everyone who knew Linda knew how passionate she was about her family and how she showered each of them with love and gifts, especially her nieces and nephews. She will be remembered for her wonderful kindness, wit, and humor and how she entertained family and friends with wonderful meals, brunches, and barbecues. Also, everyone knew their dogs, Rodney, Arnie, and Frankie and their neighbor’s dogs who spent time in and out of the house all day long and played between the two yards.

Linda was preceded in death by her older sister, Margaret, and her parents, four uncles and one aunt. Linda is survived by her husband Eric, son Peter (Laurel), brother Harry (Susan), sister Nancy (Jim), sister Beverly (Roger), nieces and nephews, and her cousins, the Jimmy and Yu Kim Hom Family.

Thank you to Partner’s Hospice and especially Bridgett (nurse), Carolyn (social work) and Andrea (CNA). Thank you to all the doctors, nurses, and other countless staff that kept Linda alive and treated her with wonderful compassionate health care. Without modern healthcare Linda would not have survived more than a few days with her presenting illness. The two and a half years after her diagnosis were not easy, but they were precious for her surviving family, friends, and spoiled pets.

Funeral services will be at Daly-Leach Chapel, in Hamilton, on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at 3:00 pm. A reception is to follow. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Planned Parenthood, Missoula Education Foundation, or Missoula Youth Homes in Linda’s name. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com

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