Mary Jorgenson Edmundson passed away on Nov. 20, 2025, in Gilbert, Arizona. To the end she exhibited her faith, generosity and unwavering love for her family. She was always available to provide hospitality and friendship to all who she encountered.
Our mother lived a life marked by generosity, faith and unwavering love. As the oldest of three, she served as a steady guide for her brothers, Dennis and Bruce. She is survived by four of her six children – Alan, Dawn, Dean, and Mali, and reunited with her two daughters, Shawn and Terri, whom she loved deeply and carried in her heart throughout her life.
Mom lived a life of open doors and open hands. Anyone who needed a meal, a place to stay, or someone to listen knew they were welcome with her. Her giving spirit reached far beyond her home, especially through the mission trip to the Czech Republic that she organized and led with quiet purpose and dedication.
Her heart belonged above all to her husband, Arlen. They began dating when she was just sixteen and built a marriage that lasted a lifetime, until his passing at age 86. Their love story became the foundation of our family and remained her greatest devotion.
She lived by three guiding pillars: faith, family and football. After many years in Wisconsin, she became a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan—so devoted that in her final days she kept her Packer bag close, randomly filled with her coasters and door sign, a small but meaningful comfort.
Many also knew Mom through her passion for bridge. In 2015, she achieved the distinguished title of Bridge Life Master, awarded by the American Contract Bridge League—an extraordinary accomplishment earned through years of skill, practice, and love for the game. She was a generous and patient bridge teacher, always willing to share her knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn. Her sharp mind, discipline, and joy in teaching made her both a master player and a mentor to many.
Later in life Mom embraced travel with the same enthusiasm she brought to every part of her life. She and Dad journeyed across the world together—visiting China, the Panama Canal, Africa, the Middle East, and many countries throughout Europe. Her adventurous spirit didn’t fade with age; at 83, she traveled alone on a safari through Kenya, Tanzania, and other East African countries. She had an indomitable spirit that kept her exploring, learning, and seeking adventure all the way to the end.
Her proud legacy continues through her grandchildren:
Courtney Edmundson, Kendra Miller, Devn and Dylan Edmundson, Sarah Parker, Joey Piscitella, Matthew Queen, Nathan Queen, Heather Miller, Sara Alswager, Chris Schmidt, and Jerry Schmidt. And through her many great grandchildren, each a testament to the love, strength, and values she poured into our family.
Please join us to as we celebrate her life at 11 a.m. April 11, 2026, with a burial service at Palisades Lutheran Church Cemetery in Garretson, South Dakota, where she will be laid to rest alongside her life-long partner, friend and husband Arlen.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to:
•Eden Village of Arizona, supported through Christ Greenfield Lutheran Church
•Barrow Neurological Institute (Parkinson’s Center)
Her presence will be deeply missed, but her warmth, generosity, adventurous spirit, and steady love will continue to guide us and live on in all who knew her.
