Edna Reese celebrates 100th birthday

Courtesy Wheat Country Estates

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Edna Reese celebrated her 100th birthday at her home at Wheat Country Estates in Chester. Many friends dropped by her window, and she enjoyed a special birthday party in her honor with the staff and residents. 

Edna Lucille LeMeux was born April 27, 1920, south of Poplar. She was one of 14 children that her father delivered. 

At age 17, Edna attended beauty school in Chinook. She met and married Wade Reese in 1940. They would raise four wonderful children. She has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including three sets of twins born in the same family. She also has two great-great-grandchildren. 

Edna and her family lived in Havre and Kremlin and, in 1975, Edna bought a house in Gildford and opened Edna's Beauty Nook. This became a favorite salon up and down the Hi-Line for many years. She kept her license up to date until 2017. 

Edna, in her spare time, loved to garden, grow flowers and sew. For her daughters wedding, Edna sewed the bridal gown, the bridesmaids dresses, and even her own mother-of-the-bride dress. Edna is still an avid walker and a devout Christian. 

She is well-known for her crocheting and knitting and especially for her knitted hats. She has knitted more than 5,000, many of which she has donated to the Great Falls Mission, Hats for Orphans, the Big Hearts Little Hats Heart Association, the Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen, area schools and numerous church organization mission projects. She also donates hats to sell for the Wheat Country Estates Activity Fund. 

One thing at being 100 she said she would like most to do is "putter in the dirt in the garden," and her best advice to the world is "Be kind!"