Alexandria – Edna Marie (Miliander) Larson was born May 22, 1921, to Victor and Ida (Wahlin) Miliander at home in rural Goodridge. In 1927, the family moved to a farm near Winger. Edna attended a one room rural school through the 8th grade. A high school equivalent was later completed by mail correspondence.
Edna worked as a nurse’s aide in Virginia before moving to Thief River Falls. She later obtained her LPN license. She worked at Falls Starkow Clinic for four doctors and at St Luke’s Hospital in the surgery department.
Edna was united in marriage to Martin Larson June 7, 1952. Following their marriage, they lived in California for a short time and then moved back to Minnesota, settling on a farm north of Oklee. Edna worked at Northwestern Hospital (previously St .Luke’s Hospital) part-time as an LPN.
In 1965, the family moved to a country schoolhouse near Garfield, which they remodeled into a three-bedroom home. Edna worked at the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria for over 20 years. She especially loved working in the nursery with the infants.
Martin and Edna moved to an apartment in Alexandria in October of 2004. Following Martin’s passing in 2012, Edna moved to a senior apartment at Winona Shores in 2014 where she remained quite independent. She moved to Alex Assisted Living in 2021, one month before she celebrated her 100th birthday.
Edna passed away peacefully under the care of Hospice at the Alex Assisted Living, Alexandria, on December 19, 2023, at the age of 102 years and seven months.
She is survived by her three children: Bruce (Judy) Larson of Anoka, Pam (Edward) Strickland of Somerset, WI, Rod (DeLoris) Larson of Thief River Falls; four grandchildren: Joni (Shane) Broughton of West Kingston, RI, Jerry (Leanne) Larson of Garfield, Susie (Jeff) Holman of Spokane, WA, Jared (Charissa) Larson of Elk River; eight great-grandchildren: Addison and Teagan Broughton, Bowden, Ben and Aleta Larson, Hunter Holman, Oliver and Rowan Larson; and one brother-in-law: Bennet Larson.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Martin; parents; brother, Vernon; sisters: Irene, May, Idella, and Emma; and several extended family members.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel, Alexandria. Officiants: Loren Quick, Aunika Schraw, and Ashley Hoseth. Pallbearers: Jerry Larson, Jared Larson, Doug Navratil, Joe Hardy, Kevin Renollet, and Steve Vincent. Honorary pallbearers: grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Interment: Kinkead Cemetery, Alexandria.
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