Edna Briggs

Edna Nellie Briggs, age 88, of Erskine, MN, formerly of Crookston, MN, passed away on December 6, 2020, at the Pioneer Memorial Medical Center in Erskine, MN.

Edna Nellie Hennager was born on May 8, 1932, in Langdon, ND, the daughter of the late Earl and Nettie (Dale) Hennager.  She was raised all over Polk county, MN, in Crookston, Fertile, Mentor, and Gonvick.  She graduated from Gonvick High School in 1949.  She moved to Crookston in 1950 where she worked at the Red Owl Store and then Blackie’s Café.  She was married to Roy C. Briggs, Jr., on June 1, 1952, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN.  She worked as a waitress and drove truck all while raising 5 children.  In 1960 the family moved to Iowa and Edna and her husband started a demolition business.  In 1966, she moved back to Crookston and took up nursing, working at St. Michael’s Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, and then for Riverview Health in Crookston, MN.  After that Edna worked for several cafes in Crookston, MN, and owned her own café, “The E and B”, for 2 years.  She cooked all over town for the Villa St. Vincent, the Irishman’s Shanty, and the Golden Link.  She was a lifelong member of the VFW and the American Legion Auxiliary where she was president 3 times, as well as Chaplain, Historian, and Color Guard Officer.

Edna is survived by her children, Donald (Debbie) Briggs of Crookston, MN, Linda Jensen of Crookston, MN, and Susan (Jack) Clark of Seabrook, TX; 16 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Olive Sperling of Bemidji, MN; and brother, John Hennager of Spirit Lake, ND; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy C. Briggs, Jr,; sons, Larry Hennager and Dale Briggs; grandson, Cody; great-granddaughter, Tiffany; brothers, Ernest, George, and Virgil Hennager; sister, Christine Worf; and her life companion and fiancé for over 30 years, Loy “Whiskers” Johnson.

A memorial service for Edna will be held at 6:00 pm on Friday, December 11, 2020, at Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home with a time of visitation for one hour before.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, attendance at the funeral will be limited to 50 people and masks and social distancing will be required.