Edna M Tilson

Edna M. Tilson, of Longmont, died August 21, 2016 at Longmont United Hospital. She was 84. Edna was born April 7, 1932 in Sturum, North Dakota to Edna Agnes (Brady) and Oscar Hagsten. She was married to Clifford Bode and Rex Tilson, both preceding her in death.

Edna’s working career was with Neodata. She enjoyed fishing and playing cards. She was also a familiar face with the bingo players in the area.

Surviving are her sons William Bode and Peter VanLew (Diane) of Longmont and her daughters Edwina Jivery and Mary Floyd (Jeff) also of Longmont. She is further survived by her brother Harry Hagsten (Jean) of Keewatin, MN, 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her parents, her husbands, her son Calvin Bode, her daughter Linda Krutzic, her brother Walter Hagsten and four sisters Thelma Saukko, Betty Woitel, Ella Lubovich and Edith Massick.

Cremation has been entrusted to Howe Mortuary and Cremation Services.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2016 at the Howe Mortuary Chapel in Longmont.

The following was written by the family and shared at Edna's celebration of life:

The Legacy of Edna Mae Tilson

First off, she had polio and it was at this time that made her what she was, and what I would like you to remember. As a child and elders come to see you what would they say, “Oh, you are the apple of your dad’s eye”. She became the best pie maker and when adults don’t want you to know something what do they do? Spill. Boy did she master that! You tell her the letters and she would tell you the word. How impressive. Her summers were spent at sibling’s homes, babysitting. Talk about slave labor. When the kids talk of Aunt Edna Mae, it was with a twinkle in their eye. What an impact!

She married at 18 and had 5 children, raised them by the ten commandments. Her children’s friends called her “ma”. She treated them with respect and they adored her for it.

She didn’t get her driver’s license until her late 20’s. Boy was that a life change. Talk about freedom.

She wore many hats. The first job I remember was laundry mat attendant/bus driver. One story goes that while driving the bus, she taped a trailer and knocked the home owner off the throne. Next, was assembly worker. She worked at Western Cutlery where she was cleaning a troth and the blade kicked back and caught her left middle finger, cutting the tendon. This disability didn’t slow her down. She waitressed, tended bar, worked security and finally as a janitor for Neodata, retiring at age 62.

She bought a mobile home in Florida, spent winters there and came back and went to work at Avadon and was re-hired year after year. That said a lot about her work ethic.

Now, her favorite actor/singer was Dean Martin. You’re nobody ‘til somebody loves you. Boy she was smitten! Then later she focused on Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.

Going on to her hobbies, I don’t know what she loved more, reading or fishing. She never passed up an opportunity to go fishing and would always out fish her companions. She didn’t need to gloat – less is more! Way to go Edna Mae.

Later on she took up crocheting, her specialty was pot holders.

Another thing to her credit was buying the UGO. Boy did she get grief on that. But, it never let her down. A little song: “you go, I go, we all go in the UGO”.

After retiring she was exposed to gambling. She made several trips to Vegas and the Ugo made countless trips to Black Hawk. She was quite the bingo babe.

1) Seeing a pie, think of her

2) A body of water, picture her sitting there

3) Any bingo hall, give it up to her

Thank you for coming. I hope Edna Mae made you feel welcome.