Funeral services for Edna Blodgett of Chadron will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron with Pastor Scott Montgomery officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery.
Edna passed away on June 4, 2013 at Pioneer Manor Nursing Home in Hay Springs. She was 91.
Edna was born May 19, 1922 to Max and Anna Kaiser in Ainsworth, Nebraska. She rode a horse to grade school in German Valley at Brewster with her older sister Dorothy and younger brothers Elmer and Harold. Edna’s father died at an early age from dust pneumonia during the depression years. The family then moved to Ainsworth where Edna graduated from high school in 1940.
Edna’s first job was as a head waitress, cashier, and sometimes cook at a little restaurant. She met Delmer Brewster who did tree work and landscaping. Delmer was drafted into the Army and after basic training he was stationed in Pendleton, Oregon. He sent for Edna to come by train and they were married September 10, 1942 at Lewiston, Idaho. Their daughter, Darlene Mae was born on June 2, 1943 at Pendleton. Delmer was called for overseas duty, so he got a pass to take Darlene and Edna home to Ainsworth where they stayed with Edna’s mother until he was discharged.
The Brewster family then moved to a ranch in Ewing. This ranch had snakes everywhere – in the chicken nests and running through the corral. In the springs they found balls of different kinds of snakes all intertwined. Edna was ready to move, so they bought a home in O’Neill, later selling it to move east of Ainsworth on a ranch. At this time, their second daughter, Donna Rae was born October 26, 1946. The family lived in Ainsworth for several years, and a couple of years at Long Pine, and then made the big move to Chadron in 1956.
Edna worked for John Macek in his typewriter store, and later in Hested’s Dime Store. Delmer had just started on a construction job at a church in Chadron when he fell and broke his back. He became seriously ill and spent several months in the veteran’s hospital in Hot Springs, South Dakota. He passed away on December 26, 1959 at the age of 41. Edna worked hard for low wages, but always managed to provide for her family.
In 1966, Edna married Doyle ‘Shorty” Witt and they had seventeen happy years together. Many of those happy hours were spent fishing. Edna worked for Anderson’s clothing store in Chadron for sixteen years and Doyle passed away in 1983.
Edna hadn’t planned on marrying again, but the right person came along, and in 1984 she married Robert Blodgett. They got to travel extensively, touring California, Arizona, Disneyland four times, Mexico, Alaska twice, Hawaii four times, and spent four winters in Las Vegas. Bob passed away in 2000, leaving Edna very lonesome.
Edna is loved greatly by her family and they are thankful she created many memories by giving her crocheted items to them and friends. Edna has been living at Pioneer Manor since December 2007.
Edna is preceded in death by her parents; sister Dorothy Pierce; brother Harold Kaiser; husbands, Delmer Brewster, Doyle “Shorty” Witt and Robert Blodgett; infant great grandson Aaron Almeida.
Her survivors include her daughters, Darlene Davis of Chadron and Donna (Rodney) Anderson of Custer, South Dakota; grandchildren Rick (Connie) Broberg and their children Jordan and Justin, Bonnie (Steve) Almeida and their children Matthew and Sarah; brother Elmer Kaiser of Norfolk, NE; close cousin Esther Zeigler of Ainsworth, NE.
A memorial has been established for the Chadron Christian Church or Pioneer Manor Nursing Home. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com