Giving back
February 14, 2018Ben and Linda Landheer
Ben and Linda Landheer have both “been involved in an awful lot of things,” Ben said with a smile. Giving back was something he learned by watching his parents’ example as he grew up on a dairy and vegetable farm in Grant.
“I was raised that way,” he said. “The motivation comes from my parents. I learned we need to share with others.”
During busy careers and now in retirement, both Ben and Linda have found ways to serve the community and give back.
Linda worked for the county for more than 40 years and spent 16 years as the county’s Register of Deeds. She is now a member of The Fremont Area Elderly Needs Fund board at the Community Foundation. Linda and her fellow trustees oversee the fund’s work to support the well-being of seniors in Newaygo County.
Ben created a fund at the Community Foundation as another way to give back. The fund supports Fremont Christian School and Western Michigan Christian, organizations with a special place in Ben’s heart because his own children attended there.
“I was thankful for how they educated my kids,” Ben said. “They got a quality Christian education and have gone on to be successful.”
Ben served on both schools’ boards and got to know the needs of the schools and families firsthand.
“I wanted to find a way to contribute back,” he said. “We need to get help for schools in some way.”
“If you’ve been blessed, you need to share,” Ben continued, noting his gratitude for living in a supportive community where people get to know their neighbors. “The community has been good to me and hopefully I’ve been good to the community.”
