Benton County honors contributions of former Commissioner Linda Modrell
Benton County mourns the loss of former Commissioner Linda Modrell who passed away on Nov. 8. Modrell served four terms as Benton County Commissioner from 1999 until her retirement in December 2014.
A fourth generation Oregonian, Modrell grew up in Albany and spent her life and career in the Willamette Valley. She earned an associate degree from Linn-Benton Community College, followed by a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Oregon State University.
Following several years as an employee of OSU, where she worked her way up from secretary to manager and director roles, Modrell worked in the health policy field. In fact, she was part of the team that developed the Oregon Health Plan.
Known for the passion and energy she brought to her four terms as County Commissioner, Modrell was instrumental in establishing services for community members like the Community Health Centers of Benton & Linn Counties — a network of federally qualified health clinics for low-income residents that now serves patients in six locations.
“Linda was a fantastic role model and advisor,” said former commissioner Xan Augerot. “She cared fiercely for people and community well-being. Access to high quality health care and historic preservation were two of her many passions.”
“She was tireless, making appearances at meetings and events across the county,” said Augerot.
In 2014, Modrell told the Corvallis Gazette-Times that one of her proudest accomplishments was completing the work to establish three beloved Benton County natural areas: Beazell Memorial Forest, Fitton Green Natural Area and Fort Hoskins Historical Park.
Modrell was also invested in projects that contributed to responsible and efficient governance, like the transition to a biennial budget cycle which reduces repetition in the budget process and allows more time to focus on long-term goals and substantive work.
With that same eye on efficiency, Modrell helped facilitate the purchase of the Sunset Building on SW Research Way to consolidate employees who had been scattered in rented spaces. With the acquisition of two more buildings on the same street over the next decade, Research Way became a center of County governance.
County Counsel Vance Croney, who worked with Modrell throughout her 16-year tenure, admired her commitment to seeing things through to the end. “When she sank her teeth into a project, she didn’t let go until it was completed.”
Together with Commissioner Annabelle Jaramillo, one of the signature moments of Modrell’s tenure was the vote in March 2004 for the County Clerk to stop issuing all marriage licenses until same sex couples also had the right to marry.
“Linda’s great contribution to us all was her stance on marriage equality,” remembers Commissioner Pat Malone.
The issue was divisive and emotional, but Modrell held firmly to her passion for equality and compassion for her constituents, even while the stop on marriage licenses received national attention and a citizens’ group began a recall effort to force Modrell out of office.
The standoff ended in August 2004 when all three Commissioners voted to comply with a court order to resume issuing marriage licenses to straight couples. Same-sex marriage finally became legal in Oregon in 2014, about seven months before Modrell retired.
Modrell’s service extended to the state level, with appointments on several task forces and steering committees. She served in many roles with the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC), including president of the organization. At this year’s statewide conference on Nov. 20, she was honored for her many years of service.
To Malone, who took office in 2018, Modrell was a friend and mentor. “I have great memories of talking and laughing with Linda at Benton County Fairs. We’d listen to concerts and talk about the issues of the day. She was an avid supporter of 4-H and the Fair. She and Keith, her partner, even moved their Airstream trailer to a fairgrounds campsite and spent their nights there.”
“Linda was very kind,” said Malone. “I will miss her.”
AOC Executive Director Gina Nikkel (center) and AOC President and Umatilla Commissioner John Shaffer (right) honor former Commissioner Linda Modrell, a past president of AOC, at the 2025 annual AOC Business Meeting.