Edith Segerstrom (nee DeMars) of Grand Rapids, Minnesota (formerly of Blaine) passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 12th, 2023, following a diagnosis of dementia.

Edith was born on January 17th, 1937, in Elk River Minnesota. Edith was always a caretaker and began at a young age, frequently caring for her many nieces and nephews. Sometimes this came at the expense of her own ambitions, but she didn't mind. She loved caring for family, and she loved children.

As a young adult, Edith worked for a local roller rink. This is where she would end up meeting the man who would turn out to be the love of her life. As the story goes, Edith was in charge of admission to the rink that night. A young man showed up during her shift who matched the criteria of someone she would normally turn away. This young man immediately caught Edith's eye and she knew she couldn't turn away someone as handsome as he was. The rest is history and she eventually married that handsome young man from the roller rink, Ralph Segerstrom, on June 19th, 1954. The two held true to their vows and would be inseparable for the rest of their lives.

Edith and Ralph soon began a family together. She gave birth to her beloved daughters Ginger and Roxanne. They raised the family in their home in Blaine, going on many trips together over the girl's childhood years. The family built a cabin together in Grand Rapids on a beautiful and wooded plot of lake property, living in a travel trailer for a period during construction. Edith and Ralph went so far as to work overnight janitorial work together to help finance the construction of their dream home. The pair would later retire to this home that they built with love and sweat together.

While her daughters attended school, Edith began working for the local school district in the lunchroom of a nearby elementary school. Edith loved this line of work so much that as some of the children she served lunch to every day grew from elementary school age into middle school, she followed them to their new school. As her own daughters aged and graduated high school, she began a new career working for St. Jude Medical, a career she would hold until her retirement.

Edith was an excellent baker. Every dish she made, almost always from scratch, was enjoyed by anyone lucky enough to partake. She also enjoyed various crafts including crocheting, embroidery, sewing and creating any number of household items and toys out of plastic canvas and yarn. She loved wildlife and never missed an opportunity to feed birds, chipmunks, rabbits and deer (and an occasional raccoon or bear by accident) around her home.

Edith was fiercely protective of her family and loved them with an even greater fierceness. Her family was her true passion in life. Every decision she made regarding her careers or personal life was made to further her love of her family. No professional or personal title or accolade mattered to her as much as the titles of Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. She thoroughly enjoyed being a mother and loved her daughters with every ounce of her soul. That love extended fully to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Edith never missed an opportunity to make her grandchildren feel loved, valued and proud. She was deeply involved in her grandchildren's lives and was truly and profoundly proud of each of them. As the grandchildren grew, each would spend entire weeks with her and Ralph during summer breaks from school. At some points, this meant four or five weeks out of many summers were spent with grandchildren. These weeks would prove to be lasting memories for her and the grandchildren.

Edith will be undeniably missed by the family she left behind. She was the true matriarch of her family in every sense of the word. The family feels lost knowing that they can no longer seek her advice, enjoy her cooking, or share in her love. They also find comfort in the fact that she was a pivotal piece in shaping who they are as individuals today.

Edith is reunited in heaven with parents; Keo and Julia DeMars; siblings, Leoin Palmer, Ivol DeMars, Rosadel Olson, Henry DeMars, Keo DeMars, Julia Ann Axelson and Carol Vasseur; and grandchildren, Tanner Johnson and Bradley Lenarz.

Edith is survived by her loving husband, Ralph Segerstrom; daughters, Ginger (Eric) Johnson and Roxanne (John) Lenarz; grandchildren, Dr. Ashley (Bryan) Brown, Jeffrey (Sonja) Lenarz, Lyndsey Lenarz, Jayden Johnson, Zachary (Bayli) Lenarz and Riley Lenarz; great-grandchildren, Kylie Lenarz, Carter Lenarz and Logan Lenarz. She also leaves her beloved Westie, Angel, in the care of her daughter.

A Memorial Service for Edith will be held on Monday, June 19th at 11am with a visitation one hour prior, at Thurston-DeShaw Funeral Home in Andover.