Edna Lilley

Edna Lilley died of Natural causes on October 17, 2023. On October 9, 2020, Edna was admitted to Peace Hospice House in Great Falls, MT, where she celebrated her 100th birthday on November 21, 2020. She would soon graduate from Peace Hospice, and after three years, would later return.

Edna’s mother, Anna Sophia Miller (Sukstorf), born on December 17, 1888, in Hohnfelde, Germany, arrived in the U.S. in 1908 on ship Patucia. Edna’s father, Frank Miller, was born on March 8, 1888, in Freeville, Kansas. Frank Miller homesteaded on Sheridan Denial’s county line in 1908. Frank married Anna Sophia (Sukstorf) on June 20, 1914. Anna Miller homesteaded 320 acres south of Frank Miller’s homestead in 1915. Edna Lilian Lilley (Miller), born in Adams, North Dakota on November 21, 1920.

Edna said since she was born in Noth Dakota, she heard a lot of in North Dakota jokes. One story Edna liked to tell was about an Indian Chief and five of his braves are buried on Anna Miller’s homestead ad for several years in the fall and spring the Indians would dance around the graves. Each time Anna would tell Edna to watch and see if they came down the road so they could go down into the coulee.

Edna lived on the homestead with her two brothers, Harvey and Orville Miller. Edna graduated from Redstone High School in 1941, then went to Great Falls. Edna graduated from Great Falls Commercial College after which she worked for Attorney Armour, then McGinty Credit Service, and finally, East Base, now known as Maelstrom Air Force Base. Edna and William Lester Lilley were married on June 30, 1946, in Great Falls, MT. Together they had two sons and one daughter, which resulted in 4 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. William Lilley passed away in 1993.

Edna was a lifelong member of the V.F.W. She participated in the following: Mended Hearts, Faith Lutheran Church choir, Flower Growers, Navy Mothers, Alter Guild, Sweet Adelina’s, and bowling league. Edna enjoyed dancing, music, gardening, horseback riding, bowling, cooking, fishing, photography, and enjoyed her time spent with family and friends.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Anna Miller, and two brothers, Orville and Harvey Miller, all of Redstone, MT; and her husband, William L. Lilley on October 5, 1993, in Great Falls.

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