Whitefish residents Dave Grady and Linda Engh-Grady will reign as the Whitefish Winter Carnival King Ullr LXVII and Queen of Snows. They were crowned during a coronation ceremony Saturday in downtown Whitefish.    

Linda is honored to be selected as the Queen of Snows. She has proudly called Whitefish home for the past 33 years. 

After years of visiting and indulging in the outdoor offerings of the area, Linda married Dave Grady on the summit of the Big Mountain in June 1992. She developed a serious fondness for Whitefish during her visits so in the spring of 1993, Linda left her investment job and Salt Lake City and moved to Whitefish where she lived with Dave’s parents while waiting a few months for her husband to join her full-time. She quickly integrated into the community, working several jobs, making new friends and playing in the mountains, skiing and mountain biking whenever possible. 

A dedicated community leader, Linda served as the President-CEO of the Whitefish Community Foundation for 15 years until retiring in 2023, guiding it through a transformative period marked by significant growth and exceptional support for local non-profits. Her brainchild, the Great Fish Challenge, has developed into the premier fundraiser for local nonprofits, raising millions each year for charities. 

With her Bachelor of Arts in art history from the University of Utah, her commitment to the arts is evident from her role as the past director of the Hockaday Museum of Art (now known as The Glacier Museum) from 2001 to 2008, and her work with Glacier Gallery, where she represented Western American art and artists. Throughout her career, she also curated several major fine arts shows and auctions in the Flathead Valley. She is still actively engaged in supporting and advocating for the arts and local nonprofits. 

The birth of their daughters, Madison and Cassidy, brought joy, excitement and further involvement in the community through their children’s school, music, theatre and sports events and activities. While those years went by too quickly, they were very fun and fulfilling, building strong and lasting family bonds. 

Linda feels very privileged to represent the Whitefish Winter Carnival as its LXVII Queen of Snows and be part of this vibrant and dynamic community that values such a creative winter tradition in the beautiful town of Whitefish. 

A few days after high school graduation, Dave Grady moved to Jackson, Wyoming and embraced the mountain lifestyle, never returning to California. After several years of working ski, bike and food service jobs, he migrated to Utah to continue his education. While finishing school at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and earning his Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Arts in education, he was introduced to Linda and the two quickly hit it off, leading to a wonderful wedding ceremony on the summit of Big Mountain in June 1992. Together, they moved back to Whitefish a year later and established themselves in the Flathead community. 

Dave initially taught English at Columbia Falls High School and worked odd jobs before taking over marketing and operations at his family’s retail and infusion therapy pharmacies for several years. 

Being well integrated in Montana’s medical community enabled Dave to open Big Sky IV Care in 2005, a successful home infusion and outpatient pharmacy and nursing service which he directed for 20 years. In early 2025, he entered his new phase of semi-retirement, while still working on behalf of his former health care business. 

Dave served with several local organizations over the years, including Glacier Nordic Club, Flathead Rapids, Whitefish Figure Skating and coached soccer, Nordic skiing, and softball among other volunteer activities. On a national level, Dave served on the boards of the National Home Infusion Association and now its foundation in addition to working on several related committees and projects to regulate and promote healthcare services in the home. 

Outside of their professional endeavors, Dave and Linda share the joys of cycling, Nordic and alpine skiing, hiking, local theater, cooking and gardening. They have most recently embarked on several European journeys to cycle and immerse themselves in historic cultures. Philanthropy is very important to the Gradys and they continue to support, promote and donate to local organizations that make Whitefish special. 

Community and place are crucial to wellbeing and purpose, and Whitefish provides that fuel for the Grady family. It could be the skiing, the hiking, the cycling, or the beauty of our parks and mountains, a drink with neighbors or seeing friends at local events in Depot Park, Whitefish will always be the best place for Dave and Linda.