About Linda
- Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming June 1952
- Parents John and Wanda Jeanne Echternacht, Father: retired Air Force Senior Staff Sergeant USAF
- Graduated Big Spring High School, Big Spring, Texas in June 1970
- Came to Alaska in July 1970
- Worked for 1st National Bank of Anchorage from February 1972 through July 1981; promoted to bank officer in January of 1981.
- Worked for Valdez School District October 1981 through July 1986; Data Processing conversion consultant and Payroll manager.
- Married John C. Combs February 14, 1982
- Moved to Palmer Aug 1, 1986
- Aug 1986 until June 1995: Involvement in Mat-Valley Sports Programs and High School Booster Clubs; served as Treasurer for PHS Basketball Boosters for seven years.
- Served on the PHS Graduation Party committee in 1991 and was Chairman for the Grad Blast in 1995.
- March 1998 Founding Member and treasurer for Gold Nugget Investment Club.
- September 2000 until present involved in various capacities with Santa Helper’s Program.
- Worked as a full-charge Bookkeeper for St Michael’s Catholic Church in Palmer from November 2001 until June of 2009.
- Hospice of Mat-Su Foundation Board member April of 2007 until December of 2009.Assumed Treasurer’s duties in April of 2009. This board is now known as Valley Hospice Resources.
- Member of the Matanuska Susitna Borough-Wide Mayor’s Ball Committee in 2009 and 2010 that benefits Borough wide Food Banks.
- Volunteered as a consultant and advisor to the Alaska Census Program for the United States 2010 Census. Received a Federal Outstanding Citizen Award for my volunteerism and work for Census 2010.
- Represented Palmer as an official delegate to the 30th anniversary of the Palmer-Saroma Sister City Program in Saroma, Japan, July 2010 and currently serve as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Palmer Saroma Kai(Palmer Sister City Program Association).
- Lifetime member of the Palmer Museum of History and Art. Member of The Alaska State Fair Association, the Palmer Arts Council, and the Mat-Su Health Foundation.
- Served the City of Palmer as the First Lady from October of 2004 until October of 2010.