Edna Marie Anderson

Edna Marie Anderson, aka Edie Anderson, (82) of Hamilton, Montana passed away on February 18, 2024.

Edie was born to Edna and August Bohling on July 19, 1941 in Tecumseh Nebraska. Edie is survived by her three children, Terri, Bill (Polly) and Mark. She is also survived by her grandchildren Bryce and Kelsie. Edie is preceded in death by her four brothers, Lee Bohling, Ike Bohling, Pete Bohling and Willie Bohling.  

Edie’s father, August Wilhelm Bohling, sailed from Hamburg, Germany to America in 1922 just after World War I. He worked as a farmer (indentured servant) in Nebraska to pay for his passage to America. August met his wife Edna Marie Bohling in Auburn, Nebraska (no, they were not related). Edie was raised on their farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse in the country. She milked cows, helped her mother bake pies and bread, worked in the garden, and twirled the baton in her high school marching band. 

Edie met Paul (Bill) Anderson (recently deceased) in high school in Tecumseh, Nebraska. Edie worked at Mutual of Omaha and KPMG Peat Marwick to support Paul through medical school at the University of Nebraska. Edie worked as a secretary in a typing pool back in the day when women had few options (secretary, teacher, nurse and librarian) and she had to raise her hand and be approved to make a trip to the restroom (yes, we have come a long way!). When Paul was drafted by the Air Force, she also supported him and her children as he worked in San Antonio, Salt Lake City and Denver. Eventually Edie and Bill discovered Montana and made their home in Hamilton.  

After Edie and Paul went separate ways, she overcame challenges that single mothers face, and she became an ophthalmic technician and office manager for Dr. Joe Kupko in Hamilton where she worked for about 16 years. She loved the mountains and her favorite thing was to ski with family and friends. She ultimately became a ski instructor at Lost Trail Pass where she passed along her passion for skiing. She also enjoyed hiking in the Bitterroot Mountains, gardening, and playing bells in the Presbyterian Church. She was dedicated to her three children, and extended family (brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews who also grew up in Nebraska). 

Edie traveled to Germany with her brother Pete and his family. She skied the Swiss Alps, visited the farm in Neuenkirchen where her father grew up, filled up on those tasty German breads and pastries, and cruised down the Autobahn with “Herman the German” in his BMW. Edie also enjoyed a cruise down the inside passage of Alaska with her children, her brother Pete and his family, Polly and her father. She loved Glacier Bay, watching Orcas, eating lots of great seafood, and sitting in the hot tub on the top deck with her family watching the beautiful scenery pass by.  

When Bill and Polly were dating, Polly drove from Bozeman to Hamilton to spend time with Bill who was working for the US Forest Service and fighting fires at the time. This was back in the day before cell phones, and Polly often arrived in Hamilton to find out Bill had been dispatched to a fire. Edie was there to greet Polly and spend time with her. They hiked Blodgett Canyon, sat in the hot tub at the River Bend Health Club and ate dinners at the Coffee Cup Cafe. 

Edie was excited about the arrival of her two grandchildren, Bryce and Kelsie. Her family has fond memories of her interactions with them as they grew up. Bryce told his Grandma Edie that she was “giving him a headache” as she tried to correct his behavior. When Kelsie was 4 years old, Bill’s family was skiing with Edie, and Kelsie got ahead of everyone else. She was headed for a hazard on the ski hill, and Polly couldn’t catch up but Speedy Edie skied ahead of Kelsie and pushed her over to keep her from hitting a rock. Kelsie was upset with her Grandma Edie, and shouted back “Grandma knocked me down!”  

She leaves behind many good memories, words of encouragement, and that stubborn German persistence that set an example to not give up on your goals and dreams. She is greatly missed by her family but her spirit lives on, and she is with us still. 

The First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton will host a funeral service on July 5 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Presbyterian Church in Edie’s name.