Edna M. Forde

Edna Mae Forde, 99, McVille, ND died Thursday, June 29, 2017 at the Nelson County Health System Care Center at McVille, ND.

Edna (Porter) Forde was born Jan. 19, 1918, in Lakota, ND, daughter of Chester & Lola (Williams) Porter. She attended school & graduated from Tolna High School in 1934. She married Gerald Forde Sr., June 9, 1935 at Lakota, ND. They farmed around the Tolna area until they bought their farm by Battle Lake, South of Hamar, ND in 1937. They raised 7 children in a 3-room house with no running water. They had the lake to bathe in during the summer and ice skate on during the winter. Edna was a hard worker; if she wasn’t cooking she was in the haystack, milking cows, raising chickens, planting a huge garden or canning the produce. She enjoyed crocheting and making quilts. She also used her talents to make gifts for her grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them whether it was fishing; picking the strawberry patch or sampling her flatbread, lefsa or fresh buns. In 1962, they built a new house on the farm which they enjoyed until retirement. When she and Gerald retired; they spent their winters in Arizona or at their home in Bella Vista, Arkansas. After Gerald passed away in 1994, she continued living in her home until moving to Tolna in 2000 and then to the Nelson County Care Center in McVille, ND in 2003. She was an active member of American Lutheran Church, Tolna, ND.

She is survived by her daughter Iris (David) Brimer, Henry, SD; sons Lyle(Jane) Forde, Carrington, ND; Allan (Doris) Forde, Michigan, ND; Jerry (Cheryl) Forde, Tolna, ND; and Maurice (Marcia) Forde, Northwood, ND; daughter-in-law Nellie Forde, Bella Vista, AR; 25 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, 27 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Delores Porter, Fargo, ND and Unice Forde, Tolna, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, sons Robert and Donald, grandson Ricky, daughter-in-law Marlys, brothers Chester and Carl Porter, and sisters Irene Benson and Julia Verke.

25 grandchildren: (Iris)David, DiAnn, William, (Lyle)Tamy, Lois, Teresa, Jessie, (Bob)Wendy, Daniel, Kathy, (Don)Julie, Tracy, Scott, Kenn, Brent, (Al)Brenda, Jodi, Jason, Joshua, (Jerry)Vonda, June, Dana, (Maurice)Devann, Mistelle, and Callie.

38 great-grandchildren: (Iris)Michael, Roxanne, Jessica, Cherish, Sistene, Gabe, (Lyle) Erika, Danielle, Sydney, Sarah, Nathan, Kelly Jo, Stephanie, Jerome, Laura, (Bob)Dustin, Brandon, Brittany, Brook, (Don)Ryan, Lee, Casey, AJ, Brandon, Kari Jo, Wade, Madison, (Al)Marleigh, Seth, Ivan, Dylan, (Jerry)Kaylie, Molly, Sabrina, (Maurice)Davian, Mistory, Shad, and Ty.

27 great-great-grandchildren: (Iris)Bradon, Symphony, Jada, Kevin, Henry, Summer, (Lyle)Ava Jane, Jack, Ty, McCoy, Hartley, Tenley, Libby, Ashtyn, Owen, (Bob)Kayden, Braxton, (Don)Cannon, Azery, Kinsley, Aiden, Coraline, Hazel, Reagan, Madison, (Al)Sarah, and Eve.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 2, 2017 at 3 p.m. at American Lutheran Church, Tolna, ND. Interment will be in Tolna Cemetery.