Edna Mae Dion passed away suddenly on Nov. 16, 2015, at her residence in Ferndale. She was born in the Whitehorn area of Blaine on Oct. 3, 1922, to Alice and Martin Lonseth. She graduated from Blaine High School in 1939 and then attended secretarial training school in Bellingham.
Edna relocated to Coupeville and joined the Island County Public Welfare Department. While there, she met and married Frank Dion, who was serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Casey. They moved to Ferndale after Frank’s discharge from military service at the conclusion of World War II.
She was an active member of the American Legion Kulshan Post Auxiliary and Chapter BQ, PEO, for more than five decades and enjoyed serving in those groups and at her church.
Edna decided to resume her secretarial career in 1965 when she became secretary to the President of Western Washington University. She held and enjoyed that position for 15 years until her retirement in 1980. Retirement years were kind and exciting to her and Frank, as many cruises and enjoyable trips were taken during the next 25 years.
Edna was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Frank; and by her three siblings, Gladys Lee, Kathleen Richardson and Marvin Lonseth.
Her son, Russ, and wife Shelly and grandson Mark, his wife Cindy and great-grandchildren Peyton and Brady, survive her.
Edna was a charter member of Christ Lutheran Church in Ferndale. She was enriched by and appreciative of her church family at CLC, especially during the past six years while residing in her assisted-living apartment.
Memorials to the Christ Lutheran Church Building Fund in Edna’s name are welcome.
Please share your memories of Edna at www.molesfarewelltributes.com.
