Edna Hess

Edna Hess

Edna Louise Hellebust Larson Hess, 92, died December 19, 2011, in Havre, Mont., of natural causes.

She was born June 16, 1919, on the Hellebust homestead near Phipps, Mont., (located north of Havre near the Canadian border) to Norwegian immigrants Isak Hellebust of Nordfjordeid and Inga Listou (Lesto) of Selje. Edna lived her entire life in Havre.

On Jan. 8, 1938, she married Elmer Larson, who died Jan. 16, 1960. They had raised five children. She was married to Walter Hess from Feb. 20, 1964, until his death March 6, 2008. Edna and Walter owned and operated Hess Farms Inc. north of Havre, which is now owned and managed by grandson Troy Seaberg.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Audrey Schend and Ruth Bishop; brother, Lloyd; and daughter Sandra Larson Seaberg.

She is survived by her brother Ilert of Havre and sister Doris Bishop of Brady. Her surviving descendants are daughters, Myrna (Jim) Sparks and Janice Larson of Tacoma, Wash., and Sonya (Bob) Hughes of Dodge City, Kan. ; son, Jerry (Stephanie Tips) Larson of Honolulu; son-in-law, Bill Seaberg of Havre; and niece, Sheila (Miguel) Schend Villarreal or Caracas, Venezuela. Her grandchildren include Shawn (Kelli) Sparks of Arlington, Wash., Jody Sparks of Renton, Wash., Dana (Dana Marie) Sparks of Arlington, Texas, Corey Sparks of Olympia, Wash., Sherri (Rod) Larson Stephens and Jana Larson of Fairbanks, Alaska, Crystal Larson of Honolulu; Troy (Lisa Morrell) Seaberg of Havre, Randy Seaberg of Sidney, Mont., Jennifer (Ben) Hughes Anderson of Kansas City, Kan., and Kristin Hughes of Dodge City, Kan. She also leaves 12 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Edna was a wonderful cook, especially comfort food, and she really excelled in baking, with bread, pies and cinnamon rolls being her specialties. She enjoyed quilting and cut hundreds of squares of material for the church's quilting circle. Gardening was another hobby.

God gifted Edna with a talent for managing financial and office details and she loved to serve others through First Lutheran Church and the quilting circle. She was a charter member, along with her sister Audrey, of the Havre Eagles Auxiliary. She was an active member of the auxiliary for over 60 years, having served as long-term secretary of both the local and state organizations. She was recognized nationally for her contributions and years of service. She also enjoyed membership in Rebekah Circle.

Edna worked for United Freight Lines from the early 1950s until they closed. She then went to work in the office of the Montana State Highway Department until her retirement in 1983.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Northern Montana Care Center for their loving care of their mother and grandmother.

A graveside service was held at Highland Cemetery in Havre on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, at 11 a. m.

Those wishing to make donations in Edna's memory may do so to First Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 66, Havre, MT 59501.

Edna's family cordially invites you to join them in a celebration of her life to be held for her many relatives and friends at 2 p. m. on Saturday, June 23, 2012, at First Lutheran Church in Havre, followed by a reception at the Havre Eagles Club.