WHITEWOOD | Linda Dianne Simmons Richter, 53 of Whitewood, died March 6, 2014 near Vale, SD. Linda was born and raised on a grade A dairy just outside of Nisland, SD. Between various jobs and college, she would return often to help at the family farm. She moved to California and worked for Operating Engineers Local 12 for many years as a surveyor. Linda attended Black Hills State College in Spearfish, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City and Mount Marty School of Nursing in Yankton. She finished her degree as a land surveyor at Mount SAC College in Southern California. Born with ranching in her blood, hard work came natural for her and solidified her many skills along with her entrepreneurial spirit. Linda worked cattle, managed farm land, and enjoyed sewing, woodworking, upholstery, and canning from her garden. What mattered most to Linda was her children along with a love for her family and passion for horses. While traveling home with her parents from their winter vacation in California she was reminded of her love for the Black Hills and so she moved back and resumed the country life where her passion remained, surrounded by the beautiful and scenic view of the Black Hills, Castle Rock and Bear Butte. Sharing the same love of West River, SD, as their mother, her children remained rooted here, raising their families in the Midwest country that Linda so dearly loved. Upon her return to the area, Linda was reacquainted with Mike Richter, a rancher from Whitewood, and on March 12, 2011, they were united in marriage. Linda is survived by her husband, Mike Richter, Whitewood; a son, Casey Simmons; four daughters, Nora Mae Simmons, Rapid City, Shanna Niswender, Dianna (Tony) Swenby, and Christina Herren all of Sturgis; her mother, Eleanor Simmons, Newell; a brother, Doug Simmons, Casper, WY; two sisters, Cindy (Victor) Valencia, Grand Terrace, CA, and Nancy (Lloyd) Newman, Billings, MT; and 11 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Virgil Simmons. Memorial services will be at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 12, at United Church of Christ in St. Onge, with Rev. Del Neumeister officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date. A memorial has been established and donations can be made to St. Onge United Church of Christ, or St. Onge Community Center.