Lynda L. (Mertz) Fanning, 75, Spearfish, died May 28, 2010, at her home surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband, Robert Fanning, and her children Blake Lyndon, Salida, CO, Regan Jon (Jennifer), Hot Sulphur Springs, CO, Kara Rae, Salida, CO, Kyle Mills (Virginia Dallam), Fort Collins, CO. She is also survived by granddaughters Sarah Mills Fanning and Leah Dallam Fanning, both of Fort Collins, CO. Other survivors include her aunt Vernette Waugh and special cousin Kay Kelly along with several other cousins, nieces and nephews.
Lynda was preceded in death by her parents Lyndon and Thelma Mertz and brother Ronald Mertz. She was born to Lyndon and Thelma Mertz in Deadwood on March 9, 1935. Lynda attended grade school in Deadwood after which her family moved to Silverton, CO where Lynda graduated from Silverton High School receiving the honor of Salutatorian. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder for two years before graduating from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1957 with a BBS. She received a M.Ed. Degree from the State University of New York at Cortland.
Lynda taught high school business courses in Colorado, Indiana, and Kindley Air Force Base in Bermuda where she met a young Air Force pilot who became her husband on July 7, 1962, in Silverton, CO. They were posted to Saitama, Japan where their first two sons were born. The family moved to Clinton, NY where their daughter and third son were born. During her years in New York, Lynda became involved in a charity called The Box Project and was later elected to the national board of directors; she traveled to the Mississippi Delta several times to provide families with food, clothing, and improved education. The family moved to Maryville, TN in 1982 where Lynda was employed at Maryville College and taught English as a Second Language to international students from around the world.
Lynda and Robert retired in 1992 and moved to Spearfish to help take care of her elderly mother and aunt. She worked with students at Black Hills State University. In Spearfish, she continued to care about the environment and helped start the Recycling Program and volunteered there during its existence. She also, designed, planted and maintained the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden in Brady Park for the City of Spearfish. Lynda's love for children led her to volunteer at the Spearfish Public Library, Northern Hills Area CASA Program, and Service Chair of the Zonta Club of Spearfish. When she became involved in the Circle of Stones Book Club she made many dear friends who became a strong support group during her battle against cancer.
Lynda will be interned in a private family ceremony. A memorial celebration of the life of Lynda Fanning will be held at the Spearfish City Park Tretheway Pavilion on Monday, June 7 at 6:00 p.m. People may remember Lynda with gifts to Hospice of the Northern Hills, 1440 N. Main St., Spearfish, 57783, Artemis House, P.O. Box 486, Spearfish, 57783, or CASA of the Northern Hills, 1940 North Ave, Suite 6, Spearfish, 57783. "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." Taken from the Great Law of the Six Nations of the Iroquois.