Edith Arlene (Lind) Graham fought and beat cancer 3 times. After a courageous battle with a fourth type, she passed away peacefully with family by her side on April 22, 2019. Mom was the strongest person we knew. She never complained about her situation or the pain that she was in. Her concern was never about herself, but about her family, even at the end.
Our mom was born on November 16, 1932 to Fred and Lydia (Svejkovsky) Lind on a farm east of Stanford Montana. Her grandmother helped deliver her at the ranch house where they were living. She was the 4th of 7 children and the 3rd girl. The family lived on that farm until they moved to the Beaver Creek Ranch in the spring of 1936. Mom learned to love the great outdoors at an early age helping her family on the ranch, driving tractor, riding horses and gardening. She started home school at age 5 with her mom as her first teacher. Later, they moved to the little school house after it was built on the ranch. She moved to town in the 7th grade with her older siblings to finish her schooling. She worked hard in school becoming Salutatorian of her Senior Class, graduating in 1949. She moved to Great Falls to go to business school, getting a job at a local bank as a teller. She met Leslie Graham and they got married on November 3, 1951 in the little brown church in White Sulphur Springs. Of that union, 5 children were born. The family lived in Wisconsin, Colorado and a few towns in Montana before settling down in White Sulphur Springs. Mom worked at Mathis Thriftway, Edward’s Grocery, the Railroad Depot, and the Spa Motel.
Mom had many passions in her life: Gardening, gathering wood for her wood stove, picnics anywhere in the great outdoors, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She always had a large garden filled with flowers and fresh vegetables until 5 years ago when her health wouldn’t allow her working outside for extended periods of time. But she didn’t give up on her garden, she had buckets on her deck where she continued to grow her fresh vegetables. She always had a wood stove in her home for heat, cooking and comfort. She loved going to the mountains to cut firewood for her woodstove. She always made sure there were donuts and lunch for all of us to enjoy. Heaven forbid any of us went hungry!
She was very passionate about the Avenue of Flags. Mom and Dad were instrumental in the start of the Avenue of Flags for Memorial Day in Meagher County. In the earlier years of the avenue, the crosses were all constructed and painted in her garage. In later years, others made the crosses while mom added the names. Even the week before her passing, she was painting names on new crosses.
Mom never had a bad word to say about anybody. She saw the good in all people and always treated them as she would her own family. Growing up, all our friends knew Edie’s house was their second home. Family, friends, and adopted family (like the Hunting Honchos from back east) were always welcomed into her heart and into her home. Mom’s greatest passion was her family. Her love for all of us knew no bounds. She loved to cook, bake, and take care of her family. She didn’t feel right if there weren’t chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar for her kids, grandkids, or great grandkids. When asked about leaving the jar empty when she didn’t feel well, her response was “That’s my job, I’m the mom!” Her job description could probably be SuperMom.
Mom is preceded in death by her parents Fred and Lydia, her husband Les, 1 grandson, Jay and her son-in-law John Palmer. She is survived by her siblings Ruth Massee, Frieda Forkin Hood, Jim (Della) Lind, Jenny (Jim) Palmer, Fred (Mary) Lind and Larry (Margaret) Lind, her children Rick (Diane) Graham, Tom (Laurie) Graham, Kathy Palmer, Marcie (David) Scanson and Shannon Graham, her grandchildren Marc (Ashly) Graham and Cory Palmer, Dustin (Lindsey) Graham, Sean Graham, Esten Scanson, Nicholas Scanson, Brianna Scanson and Natalie (Cody) Hockaday and great grandchildren, Serena, Hailee, Aria and Leo. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Christian Missionary and Alliance Church in White Sulphur Springs on May 3, 2019 at 2:00 pm. Coffee hour will be held at the Senior Center after the service. There will be no graveside service, a private interment of ashes will be held at a later date.
Bob Burns says
My sincere condolences to the Graham and Lind family. They have all been good friends through the most of my life, a family of friendly and caring people. I had several visits with Edie while she was hospitalized, she was always cheerful and enjoyable to visit with.
Leslie Marcotte says
My condolences to the Graham and Lind family. I am the daughter of Betty Marcotte, daughter of Mamie Lind.