Edna M. Long, 89, passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, MT, surrounded by her family.
Edna was born in Kathryn, ND, on May 30, 1921, to Tom and Lillian (Paulson) Simenson. In June of 1921 they sold their North Dakota homestead and moved to Benrud, Montana, where they filed for homesteads and lived in a tent until they built their house. Edna enjoyed living on the prairie and was quite a horsewoman. She spent many enjoyable days riding across the prairie with her sister Myra and best friend Ethel Martinsen.
Edna married Murray B. Long on October 18, 1941, at Plentywood, MT. They lived many places in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah while Murray worked for a seismograph company. Edna was an expert at packing and unpacking and making strange places feel like home. They lived in Wolf Point off and on throughout the years until moving to Helena in 1965 and then Clancy in 1973.
Edna and Murray had two daughters, Janice and Darla. She devoted herself to being the best mother possible and succeeded.
Following Murray’s death in 1990, Edna moved from Clancy to Helena where she lived until the time of her death.
Edna loved to draw and paint and did so up until macular degeneration took her eyesight. She painted a picture from memory of the homestead at Castle Rock. She also loved her flowers. Every spring she set them out on her balcony and every fall made sure they were inside before the freeze. She was a long-time member of the East Helena VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
Edna is survived by her two daughters, Janice (Lynn) Perkins of Bozeman and Darla (Dave) Carlson of Helena; grandchildren Sonia Perkins Kinzy of Bozeman, Tom (Kari) Geesling of Helena and Stephanie (Paul) Kindt of East Helena; great-grandchildren Christopher Dickerson, Michelle Dickerson, Matthew Kinzy, Jeremiah Ramos, Brian Geesling, Marissa Geesling and Sara Geesling; step great-grandchildren Jessyca Kindt, Heather Kindt, Chandra (Chris) Murphy, Melissa (Eric) Rossiter, Monnyca (Ryan) Kramer, Paul Ray Kindt and Ashlee Kindt; one great-great grandson Daniel Dickerson; and five step great-great grandchildren Meeka Yaeger, Teagan Kindt and Alena, Devin and Darryn Rossiter; and baby Murphy and baby Kramer due in the spring. She is also survived by her sister Myra Powell and nephew Scott Powell of Shepherd and many other nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com.
MICHAEL W. LONG says
AUNT EDNA AND UNCLE MURRAY WERE VERY GOOD PEOPLE MURRAY ALWAYS WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WW2 THE SERVICE ETC AND MY DAD (ELDON) SAID HIS FAVORITE BROTHERS WERE MURRAY & STUB EDNA WAS DYNAMITE IS A SMALL PACKAGE I ALWAYS COULD RELATE TO THAT SINCE THE LONG BOYS WERE BIG AND IN MY YOUTH SMALL MY DAD TO THIS DAY MISSES AND TALKS ABOUT MURRAY HE SAID HE WAS A BROTHER THAT TREATED HIM LIKE A BROTHER AND HIS WIFE EDNA WAS A SISTER NOT JUST A SISTER IN LAW I HOPE EDNA IS ENJOYING BEING BACK WITH UNCLE MURRAY TAKE CARE FAMILY
OF EDNA & MURRAY YOU HAVE/HAD GREAT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIVES AS WELL AS WE SHARED WITH YOU GOD BLESS AND DEEPEST SYMPATHY MICHAEL LONG AND FAMILY (ELDON & DOROTHY)
Sonia Kinzy says
Grandma, as my heart cries for our earthly loss, I send blessings for your new journey of bliss, movement, joy, peace and freedom. Your beautiful spirit lives on in all of us whose lives you touched. You will never be far from my thoughts as I wait to reunite. And, if you come to help me cross over years from now… please bring a map. I don’t want to get lost on that day. 🙂 I love you. Sonia
Stephanie Kindt says
I Love You Grandma & Miss You. I am very thankful that I was able to be with you in you final moments in life. You were a inspiration to me, I got my stubbornness, my smile, & my ability to get lost driving 🙂 from you.
I always had the best summers at your house. Thank you for all those wonderful memories.