Edna Frances White was born January 1, 1907 near Mankato, Kansas, the third daughter of Ervin and Grace Getman. She went to be with the Lord on September 14, 2002 at Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado at the age of 95 years, 9 months and 13 days.
The Getman family moved from Mankato, Kansas to Mitchell, Nebraska, staying only a short time then moving to Kirk, Colorado in the spring of 1918. They moved to Kit Carson, Colorado in April of 1924. Edna attended Kit Carson High School for the next three years and graduated in 1917. During those years Edna met the man she would marry, Harold William White. They were united in marriage on September 28, 1927 at the church parsonage in Kit Carson.
Harold and Edna began their family together and Edna began to display her talents as an exceptional housekeeper and cook. Edna’s cooking ability soon became well known, as she cooked for both the Mount Pearl and Kit Carson schools. Edna also cooked for many threshing crews and would in later years earn a great reputation cooking in several Kit Carson Restaurants. Edna was a hard working and loving mother who opened her home and heart to several foster children over the course of ten years, raising them as her own. These foster children ranged in age from infants to teenagers, even if for only a short time, became members of Edna’s family. Edna loved gardening, sewing and craft making. Her hard work was evident in the beautiful flower gardens that she kept year after year. Edna’s sewing was one of her many talents that helped her produce countless handcrafted quilts that will be treasured by her family always.
Edna had a strong abiding faith that never wavered. She attended the United Methodist Church in Kit Carson until her health would no longer allow it. Edna was also active throughout the community, not only as a member of the Kit Carson VFW Auxiliary but also as a member of the Busy Bee Club. Edna made her home for the final six months of her life at the Cheyenne manor in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado.
Edna was preceded in death by her parents Ervin and Grace Getman, her brothers Harry, Guy, Frank, her sisters, Hattie and Agnes, her husband Harold, and daughter Ervina Leota, and a granddaughter Judy Lynn White.
Edna is survived by her children Vern and Elsiemae White of Kit Carson; Larry and Billie White of Cibolo, Texas; Ronald and Shirley White of Kit Carson; Wanda White of Kit Carson; and foster son Ernest and Pam Reandeau of Prague, Oklahoma. Edna is also survived by her brother Glenn Getman of Kit Carson and two sisters-in-law Irene Getman of Kit Carson and Geraldine McCormick of Oshkosh, Nebraska; her 10 grandchildren: Calvin Gaynor, Yolanda Prentice, Dawn Serougi, Thomas White, Richard White, Romona Stehle, Annette White, Anita Young, Justin MacIntosh, and Summer Epps and four foster grandchildren, Barbara Rypkema, Adam, Tiffany, and Justin Reandeau also survive her. Also survived by 31 great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Edna wished that any memorial contributions would be made to the Kit Carson United Methodist Church or the Colorado Boys Ranch. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Funeral services for Edna F. White were held on Thursday, September 19, 2002 at the United Methodist Church in Kit Carson. Rev. Michael Ingersoll officiated. Anetta Maxcy played the piano for the service with Monte Peterson singing "In The Garden," "Amazing Grace" and "On The Wings of a Snow White Dove." Serving as casket bearers were: Alvin Jones, Jeremiah Gaynor, Scott White, Perry White, Mike Bashford, Justin MacIntosh and Stetson Mitchell. Honorary casket bearers were: Rosa Schramel, Margaret Brown, Anna Gunderson, Jan Hogan and Ida Mae Davis as well as all the members of the Kit Carson VFW Post # 3411 Auxiliary. At the conclusion of the church service, the VFW Auxiliary performed the auxiliary service in memory of Edna. The large gathering of friends and family then processed to the Kit Carson Cemetery for the final committal. Visitation and funeral services were under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.