1913
Edna
2011
Edna Anderson
January 26, 1913 — July 8, 2011
Funeral services for Edna Martha Anderson, of Chokio, Minnesota will be held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Saviora�(TM)s Lutheran Church in Chokio, with Reverend Gloria J. Anderson officiating. Visitation will be on Monday at Our Saviora�(TM)s Lutheran Church in Chokio, Minnesota from 5 to 7 and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Chokio Lutheran Cemetery, Chokio.
Edna Martha Balmer, daughter of Andrew and Anna (Fredrickson) Balmer, was born on January 26, 1913 in Swan Lake Township, IA. She was baptized on June 15, 1913 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ringsted, IA and also confirmed there on June 15, 1930. (That is not a typo, they were the same day) She attended Maple Hill Consolidated Grade School and later graduated from Dolliver High School in Iowa on May 21, 1931. While still in school she met a young man working in the area as a hired hand. After a three year courtship, Lawrence Anton Anderson and Edna were united in marriage in Edna's home on March 15, 1934 in Swan Lake Township, the same home where she was born. To this union, 5 children were born, Dale, David, Eileen, Robert, and Judy. The couple made their home in Iowa near Edna's family in Dollliver, Iowa until their farm was sold and a hard winter made expensive Iowa land hard to purchase. On December 7, 1941 L.A. and Edna purchased cheaper land 4 miles south of Chokio, MN. They moved to their "new" home on the farm with two small boys and another child on the way. Here they raised their family, farmed, and lived on only what they could earn, or L.A. could hunt (and Edna clean). They moved into Chokio, MN in 1948 and built a new home in Chokio in 1964, a proud moment for both of them. LA and Edna celebrated 54 years of marriage together until L.A.'s passing on December 12, 1988. Edna remained in Chokio but moved to a smaller apartment until she was ready for someone to care for her. She moved to the Grace Village and Home in Graceville, MN in 2010 and remained there until her death on July 8, 2011 having reached the age of 98 years.
Edna was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Chokio, and later Our Savior's Lutheran in Chokio where she taught many Sunday school classes. She was Chairman of Stewardship and President of the ACLW. Edna was also a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, West Central Home Auxiliary, helped with Red Cross blood drives and even the Boy Scouts. She was very proud to help plan the Chokio Senior Center in 1973 and eventually began writing the "Senior News" for the Chokio Review. Soon she started writing memories and local observations in her column and it finally evolved into "Edna's Window". Folks couldn't wait each week to see what Edna would write. Her words were nostalgic, funny, and insightful, and we loved to read them.
Along with a love of writing, Edna enjoyed gardening, quilting (making two crazy quilts for each grandchild) attending events for her many children and grandchildren, and traveling. Her and L.A. traveled far and wide by car, from Mexico to Alaska, and later by plane for birthdays, weddings, and any event that required it. She documented all of their travels and memories in a memoir for her children and grandchildren. When she could no longer travel, she eagerly anticipated all visitors and would entertain them with one of her many stories from the past. She was a special lady, and will be missed.
Edna is survived by four children: Dale (Gerri) Anderson of Beardsley, MN; David J. (Carol) Anderson of Chokio, MN; Eileen Keinzle of Box Elder, SD; Judy Barden of Clovis, CA; daughter-in-law Linda Anderson of Breckinridge, MN; 11 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, a son Robert, a son-in-law Vern Keinzle, her parents, four brothers Henry, Andrew Jr., Harry, and Martin Balmer; and three sisters Alma Hill, Leona Redlinger, and Emma Troutman.
Pallbearers for the funeral will be all of Edna's Grandchildren. Julene Amborn will serve as organist for the service, with special music by Kim Aman.
Edna Martha Balmer, daughter of Andrew and Anna (Fredrickson) Balmer, was born on January 26, 1913 in Swan Lake Township, IA. She was baptized on June 15, 1913 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ringsted, IA and also confirmed there on June 15, 1930. (That is not a typo, they were the same day) She attended Maple Hill Consolidated Grade School and later graduated from Dolliver High School in Iowa on May 21, 1931. While still in school she met a young man working in the area as a hired hand. After a three year courtship, Lawrence Anton Anderson and Edna were united in marriage in Edna's home on March 15, 1934 in Swan Lake Township, the same home where she was born. To this union, 5 children were born, Dale, David, Eileen, Robert, and Judy. The couple made their home in Iowa near Edna's family in Dollliver, Iowa until their farm was sold and a hard winter made expensive Iowa land hard to purchase. On December 7, 1941 L.A. and Edna purchased cheaper land 4 miles south of Chokio, MN. They moved to their "new" home on the farm with two small boys and another child on the way. Here they raised their family, farmed, and lived on only what they could earn, or L.A. could hunt (and Edna clean). They moved into Chokio, MN in 1948 and built a new home in Chokio in 1964, a proud moment for both of them. LA and Edna celebrated 54 years of marriage together until L.A.'s passing on December 12, 1988. Edna remained in Chokio but moved to a smaller apartment until she was ready for someone to care for her. She moved to the Grace Village and Home in Graceville, MN in 2010 and remained there until her death on July 8, 2011 having reached the age of 98 years.
Edna was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Chokio, and later Our Savior's Lutheran in Chokio where she taught many Sunday school classes. She was Chairman of Stewardship and President of the ACLW. Edna was also a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, West Central Home Auxiliary, helped with Red Cross blood drives and even the Boy Scouts. She was very proud to help plan the Chokio Senior Center in 1973 and eventually began writing the "Senior News" for the Chokio Review. Soon she started writing memories and local observations in her column and it finally evolved into "Edna's Window". Folks couldn't wait each week to see what Edna would write. Her words were nostalgic, funny, and insightful, and we loved to read them.
Along with a love of writing, Edna enjoyed gardening, quilting (making two crazy quilts for each grandchild) attending events for her many children and grandchildren, and traveling. Her and L.A. traveled far and wide by car, from Mexico to Alaska, and later by plane for birthdays, weddings, and any event that required it. She documented all of their travels and memories in a memoir for her children and grandchildren. When she could no longer travel, she eagerly anticipated all visitors and would entertain them with one of her many stories from the past. She was a special lady, and will be missed.
Edna is survived by four children: Dale (Gerri) Anderson of Beardsley, MN; David J. (Carol) Anderson of Chokio, MN; Eileen Keinzle of Box Elder, SD; Judy Barden of Clovis, CA; daughter-in-law Linda Anderson of Breckinridge, MN; 11 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, a son Robert, a son-in-law Vern Keinzle, her parents, four brothers Henry, Andrew Jr., Harry, and Martin Balmer; and three sisters Alma Hill, Leona Redlinger, and Emma Troutman.
Pallbearers for the funeral will be all of Edna's Grandchildren. Julene Amborn will serve as organist for the service, with special music by Kim Aman.
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