Linda Louise Maro, 66, of Moline, died Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.Services will be Friday April 4th at 10:30 a.m. at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island, with visitation from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday. Burial is at the National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research.

Linda was born November 11, 1947 in Independence, Iowa, daughter of Lowell and Bethel (Shaffer) Betsworth. As a young girl, she loved staying with her Shaffer grandparents on their Iowa farm near Independence. Linda's parents moved to Galesburg, Illinois in 1955. She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1966. Linda continued her education at Macalester College in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1970 with a degree in Psychology and Social Work. She worked for the State of Illinois as a social worker for DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services).

On August 14, 1976, Linda married Nicholas T. Maro in Galesburg. They resided in East Moline, Illinois. Linda began working for the Secretary of State's Driver's License Bureau, Rock Island, Illinois. She attended Western Illinois and received a Master's degree in English. Linda taught various English courses for Black Hawk College and Marycrest College. She was hired by Roosevelt University, Chicago, as the program coordinator for classes taught at the East Moline Correctional Center. Classes were designed so that inmates could graduate with a Bachelor's degree in general studies when released from prison. After the program was cancelled, she was hired by the Illinois Department of Corrections as a parole agent for convicted youth offenders released in a nine county area of Illinois. She retired from the State of Illinois in 2007.

Upon retirement, Linda became an antique dealer specializing in foreign and domestic white ironstone china. She loved antiquing in New England and Canada. Her favorite antiques were her children's tea sets from the 1890's. Linda loved rock collecting, oil painting, her dogs, and her flower gardens, especially her lilies.

After her husband retired, they made numerous trips to New Mexico to visit the Navajo Indian lands and fell in love with the area. In 2009, they bought a mobile home in Las Cruces, New Mexico and became snow birds.

Linda is survived by her husband Nick, Moline; her mother Bethel Betsworth, East Moline; a brother James (Lisa) Betsworth, East Moline; and a brother Bob (Molly) Betsworth, Davenport, IA; two sister-in-laws Jodi (Dave) Bane and Mary Maro; five nieces and nephews; and 3 great-nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.