Linda Heaton Berrett-Thatcher passed away Wednesday, August 27th at home in her husband’s arms from a sudden but expected medical event. Linda was born in Panguitch, Utah, November 22, 1946 to Loyd and Alma Heaton of Alton. She is survived by her husband, Terry L. Thatcher, son, Sonn K. Berrett (Becca), grand-children Cobe, Emilee, Zach, Dustin, Adyson, and five great-grandchildren; step-son Christopher Thatcher (Alicia) and step-grandson Brennen Thatcher; sisters Marilyn (Pickard), Anita (Dayton), Dianne (Whipple), Vickie (Farnsworth) and brother, Charles Heaton. A sister, Charlene Barton was previously deceased.
Linda was educated in the Orderville Schools, graduated Cum Laude from USU, and earned her M.S. in Education from SUU. She taught secondary education in eastern Utah, Hurricane, Valley High School, and Valley Elementary School in Orderville for 25 years before retiring in 2003. She is perhaps most famous for teaching her VES students the US Presidents, and Civil War History, and un-officially earning ‘my most favorite teacher ever’ status from her students.
She married Kent Reed Berrett (later divorced) and in 2002, married Terry L. Thatcher in Orderville. Their love was solemnized in the St. George, Utah LDS Temple in 2003. Linda had always been active in the LDS Church and often served in auxiliary leadership and teaching positions. She served an ‘Office Couple mission with her husband in the LDS Canada Halifax Mission in 2012-13. Church service also included 15 years combined service with her husband in the St. George and Halifax LDS Temples.
Her hobbies included gardening, caring for 19 fruit trees on her property, preserving fruit and produce every year. She regularly supported the Kane County Fair and always won ribbons and awards with her home-canned items. Linda loved books and built a wonderful collection in her private library and for years collected Caldecott Honors books which her students enjoyed reading. Having majored in Home Economics at USU and taught Home Economics in high schools for five years, she loved quilting, and could ‘do anything’ with a sewing machine.
Linda will also be remembered for always loving to ‘share the fruits of her kitchen and garden with many Orderville and Alton residents. She always loved visits with her grandchildren who came to visit. They always begged permission to ‘go shop-ping’ in Linda’s storehouse of canned fruits and veggies. Her banana nut bread, zucchini cakes and mint fudge are legend in Orderville.
Linda loved giving service in the LDS Temple for her ancestors and enjoying her five sisters and one brother, her nieces and nephews, and most, of course, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Linda truly is a choice, special daughter of our Heavenly Father. She loved giving service to all around her and it was often said of her that she was one of the most loving, caring, sharing, and service-oriented daughters Heaven ever produced. Linda, you are cherished, beloved, and will greatly be missed until we meet again through Jesus Christ.
Funeral services will be held Friday, September 5th, 2025 at 11:00 AM in the Orderville Utah LDS Chapel, with viewing from 9:00-10:45 AM before the service. Burial will be in the Alton Utah Cemetery at 2:00 PM the same day. Services were arranged with Mosdell Mortuary.
You are invited to watch the services through the ZOOM link below.
https://zoom.us/j/97420346002?pwd=rZC5y4BGc9ON8rlfR38DytR40hzXb8.1
Linda ( grandma berrett ) as I know her by that, was an amazing women she always made us feel so welcomed and we where always invited to every family event, myself husband and kids adored her so much . My favorite time was Easter going and rolling eggs down the hill was so much fun. She will be deeply miss but not forgotten. Sore high grandma we love and miss you so much
Love you Mrs.Berrett you were the best teacher thanks for everything love to Sonn and Grandkids and Husband
Love Connie Johnson Walters
Miss Barrett was such a wonderful teacher. My kids loved her. Linda was a good friend to all. Mrs. Thatcher was was fun to chat with when you ran into her in the groceey store. Linda will be missed. My deepest regards to Terry, Sonn, and the grandkids…
I wrote a lot of poetry in her class about how much I adored her. The civil war lessons in her class were epic. I worked so hard to please her. The south won that year and I fell off my chair I was so elated! My baby brother David died when I was in her class. She was so aware of me! She once told me that she couldn’t have children and if she could pick a kid for her very own it would be me. Her positive reward system and how loving she was to her son when he would stop by our classroom at lunch were heartwarming. She endured to the end. I love her so much!
We met LInda and her husband Terry when they were serving a senior mission in the Canada Halifax Mission. They served in the mission office in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and attended our ward. We served a six-month mission in Nova Scotia at the same time. One of our vivid memories was the day they came to the branch in which we were serving and the four of us, with the two young elders, moved them from a very old upstairs apartment with narrow stairs and a sloping roof to a very modern upstairs apartment in a new home. It was a warm day and we all worked hard but no one complained. The spirit and cameraderie have never been forotten. Rest in peace Sister Thatcher and may you feel the peac ethat passeth understanding Elder Thatcher