EDNA GUNDERSON obituary

CHOTEAU - Edna Gunderson, 76, died surrounded by her loved ones on July 18, 2003, in a nursing home of natural causes.

A celebration of her life will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Choteau. Cremation has taken place with burial of ashes in the Choteau Cemetery.

Edna was born to Freida and Ernest Arensmeyer on July 1, 1927, in Choteau, where she was raised with many brothers and sisters whom she dearly loved.

Edna married Harold Gunderson in 1947 and they had five children. She attended Montana State University, majoring in journalism before moving to farm in

Power. There they started their family. In 1960 she and Harold moved to Havre, where together they established the Hi-Line

Herald Newspaper and she pursued her career in journalism. Politics were her passion and she loved her native state of Montana.

Edna had numerous accomplishments in her life. She edited, directed and published the book, "Grit, Guts, and Gusto." She served as president of the State Democratic Women's Committee, was secretary of the Democratic Central Committee, was a delegate to the Democratic National Presidential Convention in Chicago in 1968 and later was elected to the Montana Legislature as a state representative for Hill County. She remained in Helena where she was employed in state government, first for the stenographic pool, then the Department of Transportation. She retired and soon after, returned to her hometown of Choteau to be closer to her family and friends.

She enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, playing cards and a good conversation. She always had a pot of coffee on at her house. Most of all, she enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved family gatherings.

Edna was preceded in death by her brothers, Reinhardt, Bud, Bob and Donny.

Survivors include her daughters, Sonya Gunderson of Bellingham, Wash., Karen Perry of Missoula, Marsha Daulton of Great Falls, Linda West of Everett, Wash.; son, Gary (Debby) Gunderson of Power; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy (Eldon) Cook of Choteau, Esther (John) Fuller of Apache Junction, Ariz. and Ruth (Earl) Bloedel of Billings; brother, James (Barbara) Arensmeyer of Choteau; and sister-in-law, Judy Strickling of Osage, Wyo.

Memorials may be made to the Choteau Boys Home or the Trinity Lutheran Church of Choteau.

Arrangements are by the Gorder Funeral Home in Choteau.