Edna Marie Greta Ree

ROSWELL, NM - Edna Marie Greta Ree, age 100, of Roswell, New Mexico, formerly of Thompson, Iowa, died Thursday, July 8, 2010 in Roswell.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home 505 N Clark St Forest City with Pastor Rick Hale officiating.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, July 14th at the funeral home and continue until the time of service.

Burial will be at Grant Township Cemetery in rural Woden, Iowa.

Edna Marie Greta Ree was born September 24, 1909 on a farm near Woden, Iowa. The farm had no running water, electricity or tractors. For her first ten years, her family traveled by horse and buggy. She attended a one room school house for eight years.

In 1932 Edna married Stener Ree, who worked on a cousin’s farm. Stener was an immigrant from Norway who had worked in a gas station and then a factory, but eventually found his two true loves, Edna, and farming. After they married, Edna and Stener rented farms in Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa, saving their pennies with the hope of owning their own farm one day.

In 1934 their daughter, Ila Jane was born and then in 1938 they had a second daughter, Sharon Elaine. Finally in 1941, Edna and Stener were able to purchase their own farm near Thompson, Iowa.

Edna knit and sewed for a hobby and was especially talented at craftwork. She also created beautiful afghans she enjoyed sharing with all her family members. She worked with Stener on the farm, but also held jobs in rest homes as the head of crafts. Once a week, Edna made traditional Norwegian fare for the patrons of the restaurant in Thompson, and it was usually a packed house. She and Stener also maintained the Lutheran Church in Thompson after Stener quit farming.

In 1972 Edna and Stener began enjoying their winters in Roswell, NM, and eventually moved there. Stener passed away in 1982, Sharon in 1989, and Ila Jane in 2003. A true survivor herself, and with the love and support of her family and her friends at Grace Community Church, Edna was able to live on her own until just a few months ago. She was blessed with a long and happy life, and eagerly looked forward to what God has planned for her next.

She is survived by seven grandchildren, Deb Kalish, Rick Stinogel, Sharie Stinogel, Gary Oppedahl, Tammy Baumann, Sue Marlatt and Lisa Oppedahl-Chavez. She also has fourteen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, two sisters, Evelyn Callies of Rochester, Minnesota and Delores Tweeten of Forest City, Iowa, son-in-law Phillip Oppedahl, many nieces and nephews, and two special friends, Pastor Rick and Mary Hale.

She was preceded in death by her husband Stener Ree, her two daughters, Ila Jane Stinogel, and Sharon Elaine Oppedahl, parents, John and Inger Olson, sister Malina Swenson and brother Stanley Olson.