Alvina Edwards, 84

Blue Earth — Alvina Edwards, age 84, of Blue Earth died June 11, 2009, at United Hospital in Blue Earth. Funeral services were held June 14, 2009, at Patton Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Blue Earth. Burial followed in Harrison Township Cemetery, Swea City, Iowa.

Alvina was born March 17, 1925, in Ward County, N.D., the daughter of John and Emma (Volkmann) Jantz. She was baptized and confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church in Sawyer, N.D., where she attended schools. Alvina moved to Buffalo Center, Iowa in 1941, where she met her future husband, Lavern Arlin Edwards. The couple were married Feb. 19, 1942 in East Chain. Lavern soon left for the Army-Air Force base in Harlingen, Texas. The family later farmed in the Elmore, Swea City, and Ledyard, Iowa areas for many years. Lavern died suddenly on their 25th wedding anniversary on Feb. 19, 1967. Alvina was a homemaker and farm wife, moving to Blue Earth following Lavern’s death where she worked at the Elmore Nursery, Green Giant Canning Co., Telex Manufacturing and at the Wentz Bakery. In 2005, she moved to Sioux City, Iowa, to be closer to family.

Alvina is survived by her three children: Janice L. (Dr. David) Korver of Sioux City, Gary Allen Edwards of Bangor, Maine and Merle A. Edwards of Rio Honda, Texas. Also surviving are her grandchildren: Kari (Dr. Michael) Shine of Sgt. Bluff, Iowa and their children, Shijan and Logan, Dr. Kurt (Jane) Korver of Orange City, Iowa and their children Brittany, David, Collin, Calvin and Rachel, Dr. Kellee (Dr. Kevin) Conant of St. Louis, MO and their children Landon, Lauren and Lyndsay, Kyra (Andy) Mentele of Mitchell, S.D. and their son Luke, Greg Edwards of Boulder, Colo. Tjentz Edwards of Bangor, Rey, Martin, Martha and Anthony Edwards of San Benito, Texas, sister, Helen Kassner of Sawyer, N.D., sister-in-law, Alvina Beutow of St. Paul, and many nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Lavern, brothers, August Jantz, Art Jantz, Edgar Volkmann, sisters, Anna Heidecker, Wanda Filler, Pauline Heidecker, Louise Schoenberg, Edna Anderson and Lucille Naumann.

Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com