Edith Bilsland

Edith M. Bilsland, 90, of Marcus, Iowa passed away on Monday, December 24, 2012 at Heartland Care Center in Marcus, Iowa. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 27, 2012 at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. Rev. Deborah Stowers and Rev. Ron Rice will officiate. Burial will follow at Marcus Amherst Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at the Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service scheduled at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral on Thursday.

Edith M. Bilsland was born on May 21, 1922 in Sheldon, Iowa to Joseph William and Emma (Mory) Heiliger. She graduated from Sheldon High School in 1939. On February 8, 1940 Edith and Albert Edward Bilsland were united in marriage at Primghar, Iowa. They made their first home on the family farm near Sheldon.

On February 1, 1949 Edith and Albert moved to Marcus, Iowa. Edith did painting and wallpapering for many businesses and individuals in the Marcus area. She also did seamstress work and taught many young women in the community to sew. Albert passed away on May 1, 1998.

Edith was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. She was a member of Grace Circle and had served as president of the United Methodist Women. Edith sang in the choir for 50 years and also sang for numerous funerals in Marcus. She was a member of Farm Bureau and was a 4-H leader in earlier years. In later years, Edith enjoyed volunteering at the Heartland Care Center.

She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Jim Bilsland and his wife Helen of Sioux City, Iowa; her daughter, Joanne Day and her husband Larry of Sgt. Bluff, Iowa; grandchildren, Tami Fairbanks of Sioux City, Iowa, Ed Bilsland of Springfield, Missouri, Sue (Craig) Pedersen of Lawton, Iowa, Sandy (Brent) Reinking of Kingsley, Iowa; 9 great-grandchildren; a brother David (Sandra) Heiliger of Houston, Texas; and a sister-in-law Phyllis Heiliger of Sheldon, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Albert; an infant brother, Wayne; an infant sister, Beverly; brothers Robert (Patricia) Heiliger, Leland Heiliger, Bill (Darlene) Heiliger.