Edith (Tesdahl) SAYERS

TESDAHL, SAYERS, HANSON, CHRISTENSEN, SKOGOBOE, SKOGEBOE, SHARP, HANSEN, BURNS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/28/2010 at 12:22:05

Boulder Daily Camera, Boulder, Colorado
February 28, 2010

October 4, 1912 - February 13, 2010

Edith Sayers passed away at Boulder Manor Care Center on February 13, 2010. She was born October 4, 1912 in Wright County, Iowa. Parents were John and Nellie Tesdahl. Edith had five sisters and one brother. They were Alma Christensen, Dena Hanson, Gladys Sharp, June Hansen, Ruth Skogoboe, [ed. Skogeboe] and Newman Tesdahl. All predeceased her. Edith grew up on a farm and enjoyed helping her father plant and harvest. During her secondary school years she worked as a nanny in Clarion, Iowa. Upon high school graduation in 1931, she moved to Humboldt, Iowa. At a church social she met Donald Sayers of Dakota City, Iowa. They eloped and married in Kansas City, Missouri July 3, 1936. Following their marriage they farmed the Garfield and Reasoner farms in Humboldt County. Son Don was born on October 29, 1938. Edith’s husband passed away in 1943 at age 33 after a long and difficult bout with Hodgkin’s disease. Edith provided a stable and loving home, with close ties maintained to her and her husband’s families. She developed a strong friendship network with other young, and some not so young, widows. Edith worked 24 years as a medical assistant and office manager for family practice physicians, Ivan and Nelle Schultz of Humboldt. At age 55 she moved to Boulder, Colorado. She worked 10 years as a medical assistant to allergy specialists Dr. Mark Menzel and Dr. Lloyd Gellman.

Edith enjoyed classical music, painting, picnics, quilting, reading , and preparing and serving elegant meals. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Tending her indoor and outdoor plants was another of her joys. She maintained a large flower garden for nearly 20 years at Presbyterian Manor in Boulder. Edith was active in her churches from childhood into her 90’s. In Humboldt she attended Our Saviors Lutheran, and in Boulder Mount Zion Lutheran, and later, Trinity Lutheran . She participated in Bible study groups and did church-related volunteer work. Edith’s faith was strong and manifested in her kindness, compassion, service, and encouragement to others. She was good humored, forgiving and non-judgmental, a good friend to many. Edith traveled with son Don to many regions in the US and the world. One of her favorite journeys was visiting the birthplace of her grandparents in Norway. Another was attending the Methodist Church in Suva, Fiji and listening to the acapella singing of hundreds of congregants. While able, she enjoyed regular visits to her granddaughter and family in Arizona. Edith also enjoyed annual road trips to Iowa and holiday get-togethers with family in Colorado.

Edith is survived by her son, Don Sayers of Niwot, CO and by granddaughter Georgette Burns and great grandchildren Shane, Taylor, and Jade of the Phoenix area. A memorial service for Edith will be scheduled at a future date. Contributions; Doctors Without Borders, 333 7th Ave., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001-5004.

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