Edith E. Lee, 90, Hayfield, MN, formerly of Fertile, MN, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024 at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield.
Edith “Ede” Eleanor (Bergeson) Lee was born on March 1, 1934, in rural Twin Valley, MN, to Melvin and Olga (Johnson) Bergeson. At the age of two, she moved with her parents to Olga’s home farm southeast of Fertile, which later became Bergeson Nursery. She attended grade school at Giant Oak District 57, close to her home. For high school, she enrolled at the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston and graduated as Valedictorian in 1952.
Following high school, she attended a short course at Mayville Teachers College in the summer of 1952, and taught grade school close to Gilby, ND, for one year before moving to St. Paul where she was employed at an insurance company. The winter of 1954, she attended the winter short course at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis. The following spring she started secretarial work in the office of the Superintendent at the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston. In the fall of 1955, she enrolled at the Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle for one school year, after which she worked as a waitress at the Mount Carmel Bible Camp near Alexandria. That fall she moved to Minneapolis where she was employed at the Lutheran Bible Institute in their mailing department until she married Orville Lee of Fertile on June 8, 1957.
Ede farmed with Orville on the Lee home farm raising cattle and small grains. In the early 60’s, they began growing nursery stock for her father which led to the beginning of the Lee Wholesale Nursery. Ede spent much of her time doing the office/sales work of the nursery while raising four children, feeding the help, playing organ for Hitterdal Lutheran Church in Maple Bay, teaching Sunday School, gardening and mowing around the house, and volunteering for the Gideon Auxiliary. It was common for her children to see her at the typewriter late into the evening, typing up order changes, packing slips, and invoices – with of course curlers in her hair. She continued to help in the nursery office until her retirement in 2001.
Ede played the organ at Hitterdal for 30 years and continued as a part-time organist at Maple Bay Lutheran. Orville and Ede enjoyed the music, Bible study, and the fellowship during their time at Maple Bay Lutheran. Ede was also instrumental in organizing and promoting the Gospel Tent at the Polk County Fair each year, a mainstay at the fair started by her father, Melvin.
Ede loved to cook and make meals – including some original hotdishes – for her family and extended family. A favorite memory of hers was a note she received one day in the mail from her grandson Ethan who was very young. It read, “You make the best blueberry muffins EVER!”
During retirement she enjoyed keeping up their yard, flower beds, and vegetable gardens at their home on Cable Lake. She also enjoyed following the music and sporting events of her children and her grandchildren. Her children could always pick out her voice as she enthusiastically cheered them on.
Ede was relied on and loved by many. You could always count on a kind word, a helping hand, and, if needed, corrective guidance for anyone that crossed her path. At her core, her deep concern for everyone’s well-being and their spiritual life drove her every day until her passing. She loved Jesus to the end and went to great lengths to share his love with others. Her family will deeply miss her but rejoice her earthly pain is gone and she is in the arms of her Savior.
Ede is survived by her husband Orville, and their children, Gary (Connie) Lee, Linda (Steve) Lamm, Thomas (Sheryl) Lee, and Ryan (Heidi) Lee, twelve grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by brother Rolly (Jean) Bergeson, sister Lois (Don) White, and sister Beth (Dale) Haaland along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Bob Bergeson, brother Paul Bergeson, and sister-in-law Glenda Bergeson.
Blessed are those who have a memory of Edith Lee.
Memorials will be distributed to The Navigators organization.
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Maple Lake Lutheran Church, rural Fertile, MN.
Visitation: One hour before the funeral at the church.
Interment: Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fertile, MN.
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home Fertile, Minnesota
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