Linda Rae Campbell Kopplin Gilliland was born in the Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller, SD on November 9, 1947. Linda was the daughter of Alfred and Alice Campbell of Miller, SD and she had two sisters Kay and Lila.
Linda married Larry Kopplin in 1966 and lived on a farm near Gann Valley, SD. Linda loved to bake and cook. She collected recipes as a hobby and made wonderful baked goods and meals for her family. After Larry’s death in 1981, the family moved to the Sunshine Bible Academy (SBA) campus, where Linda was the school secretary and baker. Linda was pretty famous with SBA students for her buttered bread. She took her kids on long road trips and loved singing with the family in the car. She taught her kids to play cards and was a pretty ruthless card player, in particular pitch.
When she and the kids moved from SBA, they moved to Miller, SD where she worked at the Prairie Good Samaritan Center and other jobs around Miller and Huron. When Linda met and married Roy Gilliland in 1988, they made their home in the Rapid City area. After Roy’s death in 2010, she moved into Memorial Park Apartments where she developed close friendships with her neighbors, enjoying playing cards, doing puzzles and visiting. Linda also loved Bingo and her Bingo friends. She always said, “When I am at Bingo, I am among friends.” Bingo was her place to relax, regroup and revive.
Linda never lost her faith even when she was tested through the death of two loves and battling multiple health issues later in her life.
Linda R. Gilliland, 76, Rapid City, SD passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital.
Linda was preceded in death by her first husband Larry Kopplin and second husband Robert Leroy “Roy” Gilliland; her parents Alfred and Alice Campbell; her older sister and brother in-law Kay and Roger Bowar; her beloved grandparents; uncles; aunts and many loved ones and friends.
Linda is survived by her sister, Lila (Don) Lopata; her’s and Larry’s 5 children, Shaun (Tonia) Kopplin, Chad (Brenda) Kopplin, Marty (Melissa) Kopplin, Shelly Kopplin, LaRee (Steve) Hughett. Linda is also survived by 8 wonderful grandchildren, Jason, MaKayla and Abigail Kopplin, Emma and Madelyn Kopplin, Jaymes, Tymothy and Cayleb Hughett She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and many great nephews and great nieces.
The family will host a memorial service on Monday, September 16 at 1:00 PM at Landmark Community Church in Rapid City.
