Edward W. Hedstrom, 94

Edward W. Hedstrom, 94, passed away from natural causes at Peace Hospice, Great Falls, on May 23, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, in the Rose Room Chapel at the Croxford Funeral Home in Great Falls.

Ed was born in 1923 in Kalispell to William and Karen Hedstrom. He was the youngest and last surviving of six children. He graduated from Flathead County High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946 and was stationed in Belgium during the war. Shortly after his honorable discharge from the Army in the Baltimore, Maryland, area, he met his future wife, Hazel Balderson, of Heathsville, Virginia. They married in August 1947 and moved to Montana. Most of Ed’s post-military working career was with the Great Northern Railroad as a truck driver delivering freight along the Hi-Line area in northern Montana. The family lived mostly in Havre and Great Falls.

Ed is survived by and will remain in the hearts of his wife, Hazel; his five children, Linda (Steffel), Peggy (Rudy), Steve (Jane), Janet, and Mark (Sharon); and his seven grandchildren – Steve’s children: Laura, Stephanie and Matt; and Mark’s children: Jeff, Mandy, Jared and Josh. He also had four great-grandchildren, Kaeden, Emma, Libby and Layne. Ed will be fondly remembered by his extended family in the Flathead, Big Hole Valley, and Seattle area, and his wife’s family on the East Coast. He touched many people’s lives as he was always one to help others and was known for being a true gentleman.

His family remembers him for his love of his wife of almost 70 years, his immediate and extended family and close friends. He was a strong man with a determined will. He loved to drive, especially his semi-truck, and spending time on the Big Hole Ranch having long conversations with his cousin, Harold. In his younger days, he enjoyed tinkering on cars with his best friend Lloyd, shopping in hardware stores with his brother-in-law Red, and being the first one out on the back 9 of Eagle Falls. He also loved fishing, gardening and making wood and yard art for his family. He is remembered for being a handyman for friends, family, his neighbors, and anyone who needed help.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bill, and his four sisters Ruth, Helen, Clara and Minnie. As the youngest in his family, he was cherished and doted on by his older sisters.

In Ed’s honor, memorial donations may be sent to organizations supporting wounded veterans.

Condolences to the family can be sent to www.croxfordfuneralhome.com.