Edna Carpenter

December 29, 1919 - May 3, 2013

Long-time resident of Torrington, WY, Edna Pearl Kenyon Carpenter, 93, went to be with her Lord on May 3, 2013 in Elko, NV. Funeral services will be held Sat. May 25th at 10:00 am, at the Berean Bible Church, in Torrington, WY, with internment at Forest Lawn Cemetery north of Morrill, NE. Pastor John Wilhelm will officiate with family members participating. Colyer Funeral Home in Torrington is in charge of arrangements. Viewing will be at Colyers Fri. May 24 from 4 to 7 pm and on Sat. at the church before the service. Edna was born December 29, 1919 in Mitchell, NE to Charles and Edna (Henderson) Kenyon, the sixth of nine children. Most of Edna's life followed the traditions of the day such as being born at the family home. They lived on a small dairy farm, raised a big garden, chickens, and a few pigs. Edna attended school a brisk mile walk from home. It took the entire lunch hour to walk home, eat and return to school on time. In addition to regular classroom lessons, students received special instruction in penmanship. Edna excelled in this skill. After graduating from Mitchell high school Edna married George Willard Carpenter June 29, 1938. They set up housekeeping in a sod house on the Carpenter ranch north of Henry, Nebraska. Just barely in their twenties, they lost their home, the majority of their worldly goods, and their first child, Georgie, from the affects of a house fire. They then lived in another two room soddy, to which Willard added over the years. Until 1956, the Carpenters used a wind charger for power (DC), then power lines brought AC from the REA and they switched to it. After Georgie came eleven other children, between 1939 and 1960. The children went to a one room elementary (Sioux Co.) school on the ranch, and then attended Torrington High School, 22 miles away. Eight of the children finished college; others opted for trade school or other training. Edna loved ranch life, a crafting club with other ranch wives, a new born calf, spring flowers, lilacs in the hedge around the garden, her hollyhocks just outside the kitchen window, a deer leaping over the ridge, antelope in the meadow, and the howl of a coyote in the moonlight. Edna, with help from the children, raised a large garden and preserved the harvest. She always grew flowers as well. She made wonderful bread, cinnamon rolls, jelly, candy at holidays, kept chickens and milk cows, and made do with little. She sold cream and eggs to supplement the family’s income. The children were active in 4-H, some took piano lessons and some were involved in band, clubs, or sports. Besides all the usual summertime ranch activities, the Carpenters often hosted family picnics. Often nieces and nephews stayed for week or two and got to experience working with the cattle, horseback riding, haying, and swimming and canoeing at the pond.Willard and Edna were dedicated to faithfulness in the Lord's house. Getting a large family to church twenty miles away in town, dressed properly, hair combed, on time, was a loving commitment. Willard had open heart surgery twice and passed at the age of 59. Edna continued ranching for a time, and then moved to Torrington in the late ‘80s, where she was a caregiver to several older couples. Edna went back to college to pursue her lifelong dream of a bachelor’s degree, which she received in Interdisciplinary Studies when she was 86. She and Willard loved to travel, which she continued after his passing. In the course of her life she has been to most of the states, Europe, Africa and Australia. A favorite summer time weekend trip was to Evans Plunge in Hot Springs, SD, where the older children had the privilege of swimming the evening of arrival, but the younger ones had to wait until the next day. Edna’s last big trip was at the age of 89 when she traveled with two daughters to Ireland to visit her grandson Jason Carpenter and family who were there from Uganda. Edna will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Besides her husband, G. Willard, Edna is preceded in death by 4 children, and survived by 8 who are: George James Carpenter (d), Robert (Virginia) Carpenter, Zambia, Peggy (Robert) Latham, Elko, NV, Ruth (Jim) Butler, Oklahoma City, OK, Shirley (d) (Boyd) Williston, Kansas City, MO, Lucille (Kirkpatrick) (Art) Hughes, Parker, CO, Howard Carpenter (d), Henry, NE, Lee (Jerri Lynn) Carpenter, Lingle, WY, Mary (Jim) Mathis, Wheatland, WY and Ft. Myers, FL, Joy (d) (John) Horton, San Antonio, TX, Edna (Roger) Chase, Cheyenne, WY, and Paul Carpenter, Torrington, WY. At the time of her passing Edna had 28 grand children, 29 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grand children. Edna is preceded in death by 3 brothers, and 2 sisters. She is survived by sisters Eleanor Miller, Kirkland, WA, and Marjorie Ahlquist, Carlsbad, CA, one brother, Harry Kenyon, Mitchell, NE., and a sister-in-law, Mildred (Kenneth) Carpenter of Douglas, WY.