Lenora Linda Wheeler

Lenora Linda Wheeler, 89, of Highland, California, and a former longtime resident of Crane Lake, Minnesota, died February 3, 2019, at her California home.

Linda and her late husband Carl Lewis "Lew" Wheeler, owned and operated Wheeler's Trailer Camp and Campground on the shores of Crane Lake for almost 25 years, retiring in the early 1980s. Linda lived in Crane Lake for more than 55 years.

Linda was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up in nearby Insinger, a small prairie town. She worked in the restaurant business and then briefly in retail sales before she joined the crew at Campbell's Cabins and Trading Post in Lac La Croix, Ontario, as a "cabin girl." That's where she met Lew, a bush pilot who worked for Campbell's Air Service. They were married at the Crane Lake Chapel in 1955 and had one daughter, Carla.

Linda enjoyed operating the trailer camp, especially meeting the thousands of people who came to vacation at Wheeler's from throughout the United States. As one cousin said, "[Linda and Lew] were wonderful, kind people that created a lifetime of memories for so many families."

Linda filled her family's home with love. She was a fantastic cook and baker whose specialties included delicious bread, cakes, cookies, bars, doughnuts, and cinnamon buns, which she generously served to relatives, friends, and campground guests. She lovingly doted on her husband and daughter and liked to   serve ice cream sundaes to them and Carla's friends.

In her spare time, Linda went flying with Lew in his Piper Cub, sledding with daughter Carla, and boating, fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, bicycling, hiking in the woods, and berry picking with the family. She embraced the Minnesota northwoods and outdoor lifestyle with gusto, contributing to a long, happy, and blessed life.

After retiring from the resort, Linda and Lew spent their winters in New Mexico, where they visited historic sites and went rock hounding.  After Lew died, she went to live part of the year with her daughter Carla in California. Together they traveled throughout Southern California and took a long dreamed of vacation to Maui, Hawaii.

Linda will be cherished forever and missed greatly by her loving daughter Carla Wheeler of Highland. Others survivors include many nieces and nephews, including her niece Michelle (Hany) Demitri of Culver City, California; her nephew Rex (Karla) Faraday of Anaheim Hills, California; her niece Linda (Brad) St. Pierre of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; her niece Kristi Wheeler of St. Paul, Minnesota; her nephew Jonathan Wheeler of Stillwater, Minnesota; her niece Jane Johnson of Texas; her nephew James (Sharon) Leist of Olmstead Falls, Ohio; and special great-nephews, Hayden Faraday, James and Michael Demitri, and Robert C. "Rob" Wheeler.

In addition to her husband, Lew,  she was preceded in death by her parents, Matthew S. and Catherine K. "Katie" Gravel; her brothers Matthew M. Gravel and Samuel P. Gravel; her sister Agnes J. Faraday; and a brother and sister who died in infancy.

Linda and her husband Lew were married almost 50 years. Now they can fly together forever. As Linda always said when someone passed away, "God rest. God bless."

A private graveside gathering for family and friends will be held in August at the Forest Home Cemetery in Buyck, Minnesota.