Linda Elaine (Plant) Benedict, age 70, passed away on Friday, January 9, 2026 at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison.

Linda was born on March 26, 1955 in Browns Valley, Minnesota, the daughter of Gerald and Elaine (Pistorius) Plant.  She was a graduate of Hanover Central Jr. / Sr. High School in Cedar Lake, Indiana, where she was an Indiana state championship softball player, Class of 1973 secretary, National Honor Society member, Homecoming Queen and Prom Queen. While growing up in Cedar Lake, she loved to sew her own clothes, ride her horse Tonka, listen to The Beatles, and spend time with a large group of neighborhood friends, which included many cousins. She met the love of her life, John Benedict, at a concert John was playing guitar in. They were united in marriage on August 4, 1979 in Cedar Lake, Indiana. Together, they immigrated to Australia twice in the 1980s and 1990s. While there during the early 1980s, Linda used her expert sewing skills to earn a living as an upholstery specialist at Boronia Furniture Factory. After being a stay-at-home mom for several years, Linda earned an Associate of Arts degree in Accounting from Ivy Tech in Indiana before completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management with Distinction from Calumet College of St. Joseph in Indiana. She used her business skills while working in banking, in payroll at Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana, and as a patient account specialist at UW Hospital Clinic in Beaver Dam.

In her free time, Linda was not one to sit still. Throughout the years, Linda had many hobbies. She helped John build porches, houses, and barns, and renovate their homes. She and John took in many dogs, cats, and other animals, including goats, sheep, cow, horse, alpacas and cockatoos. Linda also loved going to concerts and experiencing live music, which included anything from Transiberan Orchestra and Yanni to Alice Cooper and Sami Hagar. In later years, she enjoyed seeing many of her favorite bands at the Dodge County Fairgrounds, and she also followed favorite musician friends online. Linda also enjoyed arts and crafts. She made many wonderful friends while completing projects in the Crochet Clutch Group at the Fox Lake Library. At home, Linda also had her own library where she read and developed story ideas. She also used this space to research her family history and keep in touch with many generations of relatives from all around the world.

Linda is survived by her husband, John, of 47 years; three children Jenifer (David) Novak of Crown Point, Indiana; Julee (Jon) Fitz of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; John (Emily) Benedict of Sammamish, Washington; nine grandchildren, Michael Novak, Jillian Novak, Benjamin Novak, Meredith Novak, Rebecca Mitchell, Scott Mitchell, Caitlyn Fitz, Colton Fitz, and Sean Benedict; her mother, Elaine Edwards; brother and sisters, Steven (Kathy) Plant, Rhonda Hillegonds, Barbara (Dan) Neely; brothers-in-law, Daniel (Janice) Benedict, Ronald (Melissa) Benedict, Anthony (Shelley) Benedict, Andrea (Dwayne) Brown; aunts Dee Erickson and Marlys Capra; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins and friends, along with her two beloved dogs, Cooper and Ozzy.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gerald Plant; stepfather, Billy Edwards; sister-in-law, Helen Pukoszek.

Visitation for Linda will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20 at Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Visitation will also take place from 9:30 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21 at Annunciation Catholic Church in Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Fr. Nick Dhein will officiate. Inurnment will take place at a later date.