Edna Mayer

GLENDIVE, MONTANA: Edna R. Stahlecker Mayer, age 88, passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at the Glendive Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 4, 2010 in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Avis Anderson officiating. Interment will follow in the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. Edna was born on March 7, 1921 in Merricourt, North Dakota the daughter of Fred F. and Lydia (Aldinger) Stahlecker. She was raised as one of twelve siblings on a farm near Merricourt. Edna stayed with her grandmother in Kulm, North Dakota while attending high school and graduated with the class of 1939. After high school she attended the State Normal and Industrial College in Ellendale, North Dakota. In 1940, after one year of college, she took the teacher's exam and began teaching at the Rosenthal, German School district in North Dakota and then the Osceola School district in South Dakota. In 1949 Edna went back to college and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953. She then taught two years at Hebron High School in Hebron, North Dakota. Edna married Richard Irion in 1940 and to this union she had two girls, Deanna Yvonne and Cherryl Dicki Lynn. Richard passed away in 1947. In 1954 Edna married Emanuel F. Mayer (Mooney) and moved to Glendive. To this union she had one son, Kevin Lee. She loved her children dearly and was so proud of all their achievements. Professionally in Glendive, Edna taught at the Deer Creek School, worked as Deputy County Superintendent of Schools and later as Deputy County Treasurer. In 1960 Edna began teaching at Dawson County High School where she taught German and Business classes for twenty-two years, retiring in 1982. During the Sputnik era, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act to aid Foreign Language and Science teachers. Edna applied for German and it was provided by Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. In 1961 she was one of sixty-six educators throughout the United States to be chosen for an intensive post-graduate study of German. In 1962 Edna again applied and was chosen as one of another sixty-six teachers to study German provided by the Stanford University campus in Germany. While in Germany, on weekends Edna traveled to Austria, Italy, France and Switzerland. Having grown up speaking and later teaching German, Edna was very proud of her families' immigrant heritage. She volunteered countless hours with her High School German Club and spent many holidays in Glendive caroling with her students as well as her involvement for ten years with Glendive's Octoberfest. Among Edna's many interests were reading, traveling, ceramics, sewing quilts, embroidery and being outdoors camping and fishing. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. Edna was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emanuel; five brothers, Johnny, Wilbert (Dutch), Milton, Freddy and Calvin and one sister, Emma Steinwand. Survivors include, two daughters, Deanna (Vernon) Chrest of Minot, North Dakota, Cherryl (Craig) Brown of Leland, North Carolina; one son, Kevin (Lori) Mayer of Sidney, Montana; three brothers, Richard (Rosine) Stahlecker of Jamestown, North Dakota, Norman (Rose) Stahlecker of Oakes, North Dakota, Harlen (Peggy) Stahlecker of Crookston, Minnesota; two sisters, LuJune Suedemeier of Aberdeen, South Dakota and Sharon (Tom) Vie of Oakes. Edna is survived by her eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren whom she loved very much. Her grandchildren are, Keri Fonder of Minot, Steven (Amy) Chrest of Tampa, Florida, Michael (Kathy) Chrest of Minot, Kim (Larry) Sandy of Velva, North Dakota, Lauren Brown of High Point, North Carolina, Calvin (Kate) Brown of Lake Grove, New York, Parker Brown of Leland, Cameron Brown of Richmond, Virginia, Jordan, Marcus and Kortney Mayer all of Sidney. Her great grandchildren, Ryan and Nicole Fonder of Minot, Josh, Katelyn, Jadyn and Kyle Sandy of Velva, Lexie Chrest of Minot and Evan Chrest of Tampa and numerous nieces and nephews. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com

Edna Mayer

March 7, 1921 - March 5, 2010

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Edna Mayer

March 7, 1921 - March 5, 2010

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support