Edith Uppman died July 24, 2018, at the Virginia Convalescent Center. She was 102. Her family is at peace with her passing and glad that she is finally home with her Heavenly Father. Edith kept a sampler on her wall that read, "All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own," and that is how she lived her life. She was loved by all who knew her and was blessed to live a long and good life.

Edith was born in 1915 in Lancaster, a small farming town in northwestern Minnesota. She was the third of nine children born to Ingeborg (Nornes) and Otto Pearson. She grew up on a farm, went to school in a one-room country schoolhouse and later to Lancaster High School where she graduated salutatorian of her class. She was the last surviving member of the Class of 1934. After graduating, she worked in Minneapolis for a year, and then returned to Lancaster to marry Woodrow Uppman. They were married for 49 years, until Woody's death in 1985, and raised seven children, her greatest blessing. Family was everything to Edith, near and far.

In 1957, Woodrow was employed by the Reserve Mining Co., and the family moved to Babbitt, where she lived for 50 years, before her move to Edgewood Vista in Virginia in 2007. She loved Babbitt deeply, her home in every meaning of the word, and had many friends there. The door was always open and the coffee was always on at 11 Hemlock Circle.

Edith was a charter member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Babbitt, and her faith was a source of strength and joy. She taught Sunday School, held Bible Study meetings in her home, was a member of the LCW, and a prayer chain leader. It was important to her to keep up with her church, the community and the world. She never missed the evening news. It was a great loss to her when her sight gave out and she could no longer read the newspaper.

Edith valued all that she learned growing up on a farm and remembered her youth with gratitude and happiness. There is no doubt that hard work shaped her character. She believed her greatest strength was her ability to accept whatever came along, and she was tested many times in her long life, including the loss of her husband, two of her children.

Edith is survived by her children: Doreen Lundgren (Nathan) of Brainerd; Carolyn Surla (Bill) of Duluth; Phyllis Florin (Fabrice) of Mill Valley, Ca; Marge Bartovich (Tony) of Eveleth; and Andrew Uppman of Maple Grove; 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, and many, many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved beyond measure and all of whom loved her. Every one of them knew her warm, welcoming hug, her boisterous laugh, and her indefatigable interest in every little thing they did.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow; two children, Donie and Linda; two grandchildren, Holly and Brenda Jarvi; three sisters and five brothers.

The family wishes to thank all the wonderful people at the Virginia Convalescent Center who took such good care of our mother; for their attentiveness to her comfort, and for their patience with her many challenges. We are very grateful to all of you.

Family services provided by Bauman Vermilion, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower. To share condolences online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com