Edith Bernette (Holton) Finley died Friday, Nov. 28 at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester.
Edith was born at home in Canisteo Township, rural Kasson, Minn. to Alfred Holtan and Minnie (Lee) Holtan on Nov. 12, 1925.  She attended country School District 78 and graduated as salutatorian from Kasson High School in 1945 and was valedictorian of her teachers’ training class at St. Charles, Minn. in 1946.  Edith taught one year at the District 70 school, south of Byron, Minn., and three years at her home, School District 78.
Edith was baptized at  West St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Hayfield by the Rev. J.C.K. Preus and confirmed in 1940 by Rev. T.E. Moen at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kasson. On June 25, 1950 she married Dallas Finley at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Kasson and they made their home in Hayfield, Minn. Their children are Bryan (Becky) Finley, Northfield, Minn.; Barbara (Keith) Finley-Shea, Lyle, Minn.; and Bernette (Scott) Finley-Drawe, Plymouth, Minn.
Edith was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Hayfield; Women of the ELCA; Grace Circle; served on the church council; chaired the church centennial committee 1977-78; collected pictures of all the pastors who had served Trinity and all of the confirmation classes. Edith chaired a Christian service group for 30 years, was a member of the Field Crest Nursing Home auxiliary, Hayfield, and worked on fundraising and service projects for the nursing home.  She and Dallas collected and delivered clothing to the Marie Sanvick Center, Minneapolis for many years, and volunteered at the shelter for homeless people at Our Savior’s Lutheran, Minneapolis.
Edith loved to dance,sing and make music, learning to play piano and organ by ear, as a child and to chord for her father and older brothers when they played their fiddles.  For a number of years she has accompanied the fiddlers who play monthly in Hayfield.  She loved the homemaking arts of clothing care and enjoyed hanging laundry in the fresh air, loved to sew and was skilled in repairing and remaking new garments from old. 
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and three sisters.  She is survived by her husband, Dallas; her children; eight grandchildren; brother, the Rev. Leon Holtan, Rochester; and sisters: Bernice Crouch, West Concord, Minn. and Marion Lund, Chatfield, Minn. 
A celebration of life worship service for Edith Finley will be held Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hayfield. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hayfield.  Memorials preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers.  Czaplewski Family Funeral Home in Hayfield is in charge of arrangements. Web page:  www.czaplewski familyfuneralhome.com.