Mary "Edith" Woodward, 93, of Redfield, SD formerly of Athol, SD died Saturday, January 3, 2009, at the Golden Living Center in Redfield.

Funeral services will be Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. Fr. William Osborn will officiate.

Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.


Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6-8:00 p.m. to accept condolences at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield, (www.thelenfuneralhome.com)


Mary Edith Province was born May 22, 1915, at Callaway, NE to Emery and Sylvia (Sprouse) Province. She was the first of ten children. She spent her childhood in Nebraska and moved with her parents to Dupree, SD in her late teens. On August 31, 1936, she married Jesse Zachariah "J.Z." Woodward at Dupree, SD. They purchased and ran the grocery store in Lantry, making their home in the back of the store. In 1943, they moved to Athol and purchased a farm, where they lived until 1960, when they moved to Faulkton. Together they bought the Dairi-O there. J.Z. passed away in November of 1963. Edith later moved to Aberdeen and worked at Control Data until she retired. After she retired she moved to Seneca lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Bob Hall for three years. Edith then moved to Huron to care for her brother. She moved to Redfield, a while later due to her own poor health, where she resided until her death.


Edith was an excellent baker and cook; she enjoyed sewing, reading and was an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins. She truly enjoyed her 90th birthday present, going to a Twins game, where she was recognized and honored on the big screen. Edith was also a follower of Tiger Woods. She had a dry sense of humor, and was known as an immaculate house keeper. Above all her true love was her family.


She is survived by her two daughters: Mary "Sue"(Bob) Hall of Sioux Falls, SD and Anna (John) Woodring of Athol, a son-in-law Tim Binger of Tulare, SD; fourteen grandchildren, thirty-three great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; her brother Tom Province of Orofino, ID; her sister Laura Albin of Harrisburg, IL and many nieces, nephews and cousins.


Edith was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, J.Z., a son Wymond and a daughter-in-law Shirley, a grandson James Woodring and a great granddaughter Kim Woodward, four brothers: Clarence, Ed, Bob and Bill Province, three sisters: Arlene Bringman, Audrey Fry and Dorothy Province.