Edla Johnson Burtner

Edla Johnson Burtner, 93, passed away Friday, Aug. 8, 2008, at Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry.

Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook, Mont.

Edla was born Aug. 16, 1914, in Detroit Lakes, Minn., to Jalmer and Olivena Johnson.

As a young girl, she was an avid and strong swimmer while swimming in the lakes.

Edla received an associate degree in elementary education from University of Minnesota in Bemidji and a bachelor's in secondary education from Minnesota State University in St. Cloud.

'Edla began her teaching career in 1935 in Minnesota, and in 1939, moved to Montana to teach in a rural school near Brockway.

On May 31, 1941, she married Herman Burtner in Glendive, Mont. They farmed near Circle, Mont., for many years. At that time, Edla left teaching to start raising their family.

In 1954, the family moved to Jordan, Mont., and Edla resumed her teaching career at Garfield County High School. Herman began working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In 1956, the family relocated to Chinook, where Edla taught second grade at Meadowlark School until 1966, when she moved to Massena, Iowa, and continued teaching in the Cumberland-Massena Elementary School.

After 32 years of teaching, Edla retired in 1980 and returned to Chinook in 1981.

Edla was preceded in death by her husband in 1961, parents, three sisters and one brother.

Edla is survived by her brother, The Rev. Henry Johnson, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; daughters Mary (Merle) Thompson and Nancy (Ken) Myers, all of Bonners Ferry, and Pat (Steve) Freeman of Albuquerque; a son, John Burtner, Missoula, Mont.; granddaughters Julie Carothers of Benton City, Wash., Janet (Bret) Krick of Belle Plain, Minn., Jo (Brad) Fast of Parker, Colo., Jacki Thompson of Marshfield, Wis., and Kirsten Freeman of Albuquerque; grandson Christopher Freeman of Alexandria, Va.; and great-grandchildren Katie, Christy and Ethan Fast, Bryan and Kayla Krick, and Nathan and Andrew Ujda.

'While living in Chinook, Edla was active in the United Methodist Church, Delta Kappa Gamma-Iota Chapter; Eastern Star-Northern Star Chapter No. 23, National Education Association and National Retired Teachers Association.

She also did volunteer work at the Senior Center, the United Methodist Church and Sweet Nursing Home.

'Edla was loved by her family very much and will be greatly missed. She was very proud of her family and their accomplishments and she always provided unconditional support and love to all generations. They were the joy of her life.

'In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to United Methodist Church and/or Chinook Senior Center.

'The family of Edla would like to extend an invitation to spend time with us after the services at a reception at Wallner Hall at the United Methodist Church. The family appreciates everyone's thoughts and prayers.