Edna Galster

Edna Galster, 96, passed away on December 3, 2023.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, Dec. 9, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 615 E Turnpike Ave, Bismarck.  Burial will take place on Sunday, December 10, at 2:30 pm at St. Matthew's Cemetery, Hazen.

Christ is risen. He is risen, Indeed! Alleluia!

God says, “There is a time to be born.” Edna Galster was born at home on the farm, northwest of Blue Grass, ND, (southwest of Beulah) on September 11, 1927 to Gottlieb and Pauline (Müller) Schmidt.

Jesus says, “Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Edna was baptized in the death and resurrection of Jesus on June 24, 1928 at Emmaus Gemeinde Congregational Church northwest of Blue Grass, ND (southwest of Beulah).

Jesus says, “Whoever confesses me before men, I will confess him before my father in heaven.” Edna confessed her faith to Jesus through the Rite of Confirmation on June 25, 1944 at the Congregational Church in Hazen, as a member of the Congregational Church, Zap, ND.

God says, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” On September 13, 1945, Edna married John Galster at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hazen. They met at the Sheep Shed Dance Hall, Beulah. John and Edna are the parents of Darrel, Verna, Dana and Lisa. They were married for 75 years.

The Bible says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Edna and John farmed northwest of Hazen. She was the bookkeeper for their farm and business selling VitaFerm and farm equipment all out of the farm. She enjoyed tending to her large and fruitful garden, skilled in preserving and preparing meals for her family and friends year round. She was also a talented seamstress and crafter. Her and John were involved in many activities at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hazen. During retirement she helped start and volunteered at the Lutheran Braille work center at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hazen. Edna enjoyed playing pinochle with relatives and neighbors. She loved traveling and traveled throughout the U.S./Canada and Germany/Austria. Edna learned to play guitar as a child and spent her life playing piano every day for her own enjoyment and for family and friends. She also enjoyed singing in the Germans from Russia singing group. Wherever she was, she shared her faith in Christ Jesus.

God says, “There is a time to die.” Edna died on Sunday, December 3, 2023 at Augusta Place, Bismarck, at the age of 96.

Edna is survived by son, Darrel (Charlene), Lakewood, Colo.; daughters, Verna Matthews, Pace, Fla., Dana Kitsch, Fargo, and Lisa (Daniel) Nodland, Mandan; grandchildren, Ginny, Shannon, Nathan, Robyn, Trisha, Christian, Mindy, Ethan, Krista, Austin and Jordan; great-grandchildren, Andrew, Carson, Amaya, Kaiya, Lana, Serin, Robert (Bo), Maeson, Sabrina, Samantha, Michael, Mary, Daniel, Lea, McKynlea, Jacob, Holly, Zayden and Emma;  John’s sister-in-law: Ruth Galster, Roseburg, Oreg.; and many nieces and nephews. 

Edna was preceded in death by her husband John on July 20,2021; by her parents; all her brothers and sister-in-laws Edwin (Otilla), Albert (Bonnie), Rueben (Alma), and Richard; all her sisters and brothers-in-law, Pauline (Ferdinand) Voegele, Katherine (Richard) Jaeger, Ann (David) Kemmet, Ella (Otto) Voegele,  Tabea (Richard) Welk, and Gladys (Joseph) Harrington along with Gladys's first husband Theodore Weil.  Son-in-law, Michael Matthews. John's parents: Bernhardt and Emilie Nathalia (Boeshans) Galster.; John's brothers and sister-in-laws: Raymond (Ruby) Galster, and Lenard Galster; all of John's sisters and brother-in-laws: Antonia (Gale) Johnson, Alma (Robert) Swenson and Erna (Ervin) Unterseher;

Edna was also preceded in death by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who conquered death and the grave on Easter Sunday. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Jesus says, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.” Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!