Edna Margaret Blefgen

Edna Margaret Blefgen passed away on June 5, 2023, at the age of 94. She was born in Wakarusa, Kansas on May 12, 1929, to Jacob Bernard and Dorothy Margaret (Renyer) Heise.

Born the year of the great depression, Edna grew up on a farm and was the oldest of 7 children. She moved to Topeka, KS to attend Hayden high school where she graduated in 1947. Following high school she worked as a cashier in Topeka and eventually moved to Spokane, WA in 1955.

She met Edward Blefgen at a young adult catholic club and they were married September 1960. They moved to Hermiston, OR where all four of their children were born. They later moved to Portland in 1968 and spent 40 years at their home on the Gresham golf course before moving into a residence within the Summerplace retirement community. Following Ed’s death, Edna moved back to Gresham where she lived with her son, Bryan until she passed.

She is survived by her brother, Ed Heise and sister, Terry Taggart; children, Patricia Bagley (Mark), Gary Blefgen (Sara), Greg Blefgen (Shari) and Bryan Blefgen; grandchildren, Allen Bagley (Jen), Peter Bagley, Tiana Fough (Jacob) and Sierra Blefgen; and 6 great-grandchildren; Peyton, Avery and Boone Fough and Rose, George and Patrick Bagley.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brothers, John, Robert and Larry Heise and sister, Delores Benander; and grandson, Daniel.

Edna enjoyed couponing, square dancing, traveling, dessert and spending time with family. She had a compassionate heart and deeply loved her family. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, June 26th, at St. Therese Catholic Church, 1260 N.E. 132nd Ave., Portland. A recitation of the rosary will be a half hour before the start of the Mass. A committal will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Willamette National Cemetery.

The family wishes to express special thanks to the caring staff with Kaiser Hospice.