Diana Rae Habenicht Linton

“DeeDee” passed away March 27th 2022 at home surrounded by family. She was the wife of Roderick James Linton and mother to five children: Karen Anderson (Keith); Susan Elkins (Scott); Steven Linton (Heidi); David Linton (Cinda); and Matthew Linton (Hilary). “Grandma Cookie” was blessed with 15 beautiful grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, whom she adored.
Born July 1st, 1944, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Raymond Lee Habenicht and Elaine Dianna Monson, DeeDee was the oldest of three children (Wayne Habenicht, Eileen Snow).  She was raised in the Canyon Rim area of Salt Lake City, where she made many life-long friends. She graduated from Olympus High School in 1962 and attended the University of Utah, where she later earned her degree in History.
After a successful blind date, she married Rod Linton, in the Salt Lake Temple on June 24, 1966; they promptly moved to San Jose, California to start their life, career and family together. Rod and DeeDee lived in seven homes in three states over the next 19 years: California (San Jose, Morgan Hill); Arizona (Tucson) and Utah (Layton) before finally settling in Holladay, Utah in 1985.
DeeDee loved to teach, whether it was at home, church, school or any other opportunity that presented itself. As a teacher, she found her calling in life and often spoke of her fond memories while working at Evergreen and Wasatch Jr. High Schools. She especially enjoyed her time focusing on special education. After retiring in 2005, and taking a short break from work, she returned as a substitute. Mrs. Linton loved to brag that she was the students’ favorite substitute teacher at Wasatch Jr., and none of them have ever told us otherwise.
DeeDee took every opportunity to instruct her children and grandchildren in the ways of proper etiquette, entertaining, cooking, sewing, family history and especially the gospel.  We all have learned at the knee of our mother and grandmother in ways that can never be forgotten and that we hope we can emulate.  DeeDee loved good movies, theater and art. Everyone who knows her has been asked at one time or another to spend some time sitting with her watching one of her favorite old movies, (or classic TV shows on channel 8.2, which most of her family cannot find on their TVs ) while she would tell you about the actors, history or other circumstances around the film’s production. She also loved to share family stories or read passages from a life-changing book with the genuine hope that others would appreciate the beauty she saw in so many things.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, DeeDee had a strong dedication and testimony of eternal families and her Savior Jesus Christ. She loved serving in many different callings within the Church, but her favorite was her unofficial, “self-appointed” calling to serve her friends, neighbors, family and ward members with meals, notes, flowers, and most importantly cookies; she always felt this was the best way to show her love for them. In her later years, when her health made this service much more difficult, she still found ways to share and serve others, even enlisting Rod, her kids and grandkids to act as her delivery service after spending hours herself preparing the meals and treats.
Family was DeeDee’s number one priority. She loved spending time traveling to historical destinations, celebrating annual traditions, and hosting family parties with those that meant most to her. Annual trips to Colter Bay (outside of Jackson, Wyoming where Rod and DeeDee spent their honeymoon), driving to Provo to celebrate the 4th of July, and attending the Nutcracker at Capitol Theater on Christmas Eve were just a few of her favorite things to do with her family. She loved passing her interests and passions on to her grandchildren.
DeeDee loved to laugh and make other people laugh. She had a zest and energy for life that became one of the things she longed for most as her health and mobility declined. She has often said that she couldn’t wait to be able to dance like she did when she was younger. We know that she is thrilled to finally be reunited with her parents and other loved ones who were waiting to greet her with loving arms on the other side. We know as a family that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we will also be reunited with her again. She will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her until we meet again.
A celebration of DeeDee’s life will be held at 11:00 am, on Friday, April 1st at the Holladay South Stake Center, located at 4917 South Viewmont St (2085 E), Holladay, UT 84117.  Friends and family are invited to visit Thursday night between 6:00 and 8:00 (also at the Holladay South Stake building), or between 10:00 and 10:40 am Friday morning prior to the services.
Service Information
Viewing March 31, 2022 at 6:00-8:00 PM
4917 South Viewmont Street, Holladay, Utah 84117





Viewing April 1, 2022 at 10:00-10:40 AM
4917 South Viewmont Street, Holladay, Utah 84117





Funeral Service
April 1, 2022 at 11:00 AM
4917 South Viewmont Street, Holladay, Utah 84117