Linda Marie Koxlien, age 70, of Minneapolis, MN, passed away peacefully on Wednesday October 16, 2024 in the Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN, with her beloved daughter Ailea and friends by her side.  She will be genuinely missed, and remembered fondly for her strength, independence, kindness, generosity and love of family.

Linda was born in 1954 in Whitehall, Wisconsin to Gerald and Beulah (Mitskogen) Koxlien.  She was the youngest of four children and their only daughter.  She grew up on the family's Century Farm in Blair, Wisconsin--helping with the never-ending chores of a dairy farm.  This fostered in her a strong work ethic that she carried visiblythroughout her life.  She was immensely proud of her family's rich Norwegian and farming heritage and spoke of it often to friends.

Linda graduated as Valedictorian from TaylorHigh School and continued on to college, where she graduated summa cum laude in the inaugural class for the Physical Therapy program at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  She started practicing as a Physical Therapist at Southdale Hospital in Edina, where she met and made an immediate impression on Don Mauer--the founder of a start-up medical company called Empi,whichmade devices to help patients manage chronic pain and recover from physical injuries.  Empi became one of the largest medical device companies in the United States, and Linda was there at the beginning--applying her clinical brilliance and business savviness to help to create the foundation for their success.  Don hired Linda to start Empi'ssales effort in the Milwaukee area, and Linda quickly expanded the business. She consistently ranked as one of the topTerritory Managersin the countrythroughout her career, and was an exceptional trainer for new Territory Managers.Linda was also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota, where she taught electrotherapy for the doctor of Physical Therapy program.  More impactful than the many awards she won, was the very real difference she made improvingthe lives of innumerable patients throughout the years--both through her own work and the work of her students.

Linda cared deeply about her friends and relished opportunities to spend time with them over dinner or at the lake.  A true people person--she always remembered details of their lives and showed genuine interest in them.  But she also enjoyed spending time to herself gardening in the back yard of her Minneapolis home.  She held an unabashed love for all animals, but particularlyher dogs:  Boxers (her favorite)—Dempsey, Anna, and Beau, and her Golden Retriever, Shadow.

She was a fiercely devoted mother to her daughter Ailea, and was so proud of Ailea's many accomplishments.  Linda attended Ailea's sporting and school events, and was a strong,guiding presence in Ailea and Ailea's friends' lives. Linda took special joy in Ailea's love and talent with horses.

Linda is survived by her daughter, Ailea of Minneapolis MN; her mother, Beulah Koxlien of Big Slough; her three brothers Gene Koxlien of Big Slough, Dr. Galen (Ursula) Koxlien of Galesville, and Dr. Blaine Koxlien of Big Slough; as well as nieces and nephews, Brandon Koxlien, Garet Koxlien, Melissa (John) Hammill, Alisha Koxlien, and Derrik (Melissa) Koxlien.  She was preceded in death by her beloved father, Gerald.

A Visitation will be held at Peace Lutheran Church of Pigeon Falls at 12:00 on Friday, October 25, 2024 directly followed by a Funeral service at 1:00.Burial will be in the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Pigeon Falls. Mr. Scott W. Brown SAM will officiate.