LINDA L. BIRCHER-VAN BUREN

Through her estate plan, Linda L. Bircher-Van Buren provided specific instructions to set up a scholarship fund to benefit University of Wyoming female graduate or professional students. Linda was born and raised in the Wilson, Wyoming, area and attended the University of Wyoming, where she received degrees in English and French. She became an educator and taught in schools all over the Mountain West. Her husband, George, said of Linda, “Linda was always forward looking and did not dwell in the past to the point it was extremely rare for her to mention any facet of it. I think Joe Montana summed up Linda’s view on life with his answer to the question of ‘What was the best play in the game?’ Joe answered ‘The next one.’ Linda was an intense competitor in skiing and for her it was always about beating her times. Linda was a positive force for women’s issues and supported various causes in that arena. She was also a fierce supporter of the Wyoming Cowboys and Denver Broncos.”

Photograph by Virginia Huidekoper