Linda W Balls

Linda Lee Wilson Balls passed away on November 21, 2025. She was born on February 18, 1940 to Max Robert and Selma Martha Nicholas Wilson in Ogden, Utah.

She married Lynn Peter Folkman on August 5, 1960. Although all didn't go as planned, the marriage brought three children to the family; Jodi, Max and Tresa.

She graduated from Davis High School in 1958. She worked as the secretary at Plain City Elementary School for many years and affected many students during that time. She retired from Ogden City Corporation.

Linda was a force of nature, always in motion. She loved decorating her home and working in the yard. There was no weed that dared test her. She was blessed with a knack for putting together beautiful flower beds and her talents were recognized in the neighborhood. She was usually found with a paint brush in one hand and a Diet Coke in the other. Her clam chowder, rolls and carrot cake were a family favorite. As kids we didn't know that Bactine and bandaids were a thing until we saw a commercial. We thought every kid was told to go wash the road rash out of their knees in the hose.

She couldn't have been a better mom. She made sure that we were clean, our shoes were polished, our schoolwork was completed and taught us to pray. She taught us the value of work and we learned at a tender age to never say we were bored or we would be spending the day picking weeds, mowing and trimming the grass or cleaning baseboards.

She loved her grandkids and watched many baseball, basketball, soccer games and dance recitals. She loved sleepovers and camping with the grandkids.

She loved shopping with her sisters and nieces, Friday night dinners and trips with her sisters and their husbands, family gatherings and her "Club" friends from high school.

She married Marlin Dee Balls on June 2, 1982 and they began their life together. They were later sealed in the Ogden LDS Temple. Their marriage really was a fairy tale actually. They didn't care what they were doing as long as it was together. They would regularly jump in the car for a road trip with no destination in mind. They decided which way to go when they got to the bottom of the canyon. They had the time of their lives for thirty nine years until Marlin's death in 2021.

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in many callings throughout her life. She especially enjoyed the eight years they spent as Church Service missionaries at the Conference Center in Salt Lake and the many friends they met during those years.

She is survived by her five children; Jodi (Tom) Castagno, Max (Pam) Folkman, Tresa Folkman (Mark Carlson), Marla (Bob) Smalley, and Dave (Lisa) Ball. She had eighteen grandchildren and twenty two great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her sweetheart, Marlin and grandson, Jens "Buddy" Terry.

We want to express our thanks to all the caregivers at Legacy House of Ogden and Enhabit Hospice for the loving care they showed our Mom. Their kindness and sincere love for her was in every detail and they were a blessing in her and our lives. May you all be blessed for your Christlike love.

She insisted on only having a graveside service because none of us could fix her hair right. There will be a visitation on November 26, 2025 at 11 am with a short service following. It will be held the Mountain Green LDS Church at 5378 W Old Highway Road. Interment in the Mountain Green Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please donate at a Giving Machine this Christmas season.