McEnelly Edna web and newspaper photo.jpg

Edna A. McEnelly, 103
    
    Goodridge
– Edna Alice McEnelly, 103, died peacefully on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at Warroad Senior Living Center in Warroad.
    Funeral service to celebrate Edna’s life will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 10, 2017 at Faith Lutheran Church in Goodridge, with Rev. Kristin Dahlen Ostercamp officiating.  Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls.
    Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the funeral on Friday at Faith Lutheran Church. A memorial service will be held at Warroad Senior Living Center on Monday, March 13, at 3:30 p.m.
    Edna Alice Iverson was born March 30, 1913 at Goodridge Township, the daughter of Casper and Lena (Strand) Iverson. She was baptized by Reverend Bjornson and confirmed by Reverend Ranum.
    Edna attended school for 12 years at Goodridge, graduating in 1930. During high school Edna worked for her room and board doing housework and childcare. She worked at Goodridge Mercantile Store until fire destroyed the store and then worked for three years for Steve Singer at his store.
    On January 22, 1936, Edna was united in marriage to Oliver George McEnelly at Thief River Falls, by Reverend  Fjelstad. The couple farmed in Goodridge Township until October 5, 1941, when they moved to Duluth. While there, they were happy to add son Michael to their family.
    Edna worked at Edward F. Wahl Department Store in Duluth until 1943, when Oliver entered the Army during World War II. At that time, she and Mike moved back to Goodridge. After Oliver returned from the Army, two more children were added to the family, Jamie and Kathleen.
    In 1950, Edna began working at the Goodridge School where she managed the hot lunch program for 24 years until she retired in 1974. She loved the kids at school and very much enjoyed being around them. Until she died, Edna was still getting phone calls from previous students wanting her bologna puffs recipe.  
    When Goodridge was founded, Edna was two years old. She was very proud to have been chosen to  be the Grand Marshal of the Goodridge Centennial parade in 2015. Edna lived in Goodridge until 1991 when she moved to Thief River Falls and in 2013 moved to Warroad Senior Living Center, but Goodridge was always home.  
    Edna made lefse every year for Christmas including her last year, and she regularly made donuts for everyone at Warroad Senior Living, most recently in January this year. She was a wonderful cook and baker, adding enough flour “til it feels right”.
    Edna was very opinionated and would get right to the point. She knew what she wanted and would let people know how she felt about things. Edna made fabulous crocheted tablecloths, bedspreads and afghans, making an afghan for each of her grandkids.
    Edna picked wild berries and made thousands of jars of chokecherry jelly, Oliver’s favorite. She faithfully attended her kids’ and Oliver’s sporting events, packing a picnic lunch to be eaten on the way.  
    Edna was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid in Goodridge.  
    She is survived by children: Michael (Annette) McEnelly, Grand Marais, Jamie (Mary) McEnelly, Williams, and Kathleen Loeffler, Wayzata; 7 grandchildren: Steven (Deb) McEnelly, Heather (Lance) Rostad, Nicole (Jim) Reid, Brodie (Sherry) Loeffler, Breane (Lane) Roush, Anthony (Jene) McEnelly and Michael McEnelly; great-grandchildren:  Trevor (Donata), Annie, Katelyn, Logan, DeMario, Antoin, Alyasha, Lars, Liv, Jax, Odie, and Oliver; 4 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
    She is preceded in death by husband, Oliver in 1998; father, Casper in 1960; mother, Lena in 1981; siblings: Garfield (Sena) Iverson, Irvin (Alice) Iverson, Julia (Morris) Quam, Mollie (Orris) Olson, Evelyn (Clarence) Manderud; nephews: Conrad Iverson and Allen Iverson; and niece, Marian Marquis.
    Condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
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