Edna A. Nyberg
November 17, 1916 - February 4, 2008
Obituary
Edna NYBERG
November 17, 1916 to February 4, 2008
Edna Mundt Nyberg was born in Rosalia, WA on November 17, 1916 to Henry and Amalia Wernz Mundt, receiving her early education there and graduating in 1934 as valedictorian of her class. She then attended Cheney Normal School now Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA, and upon graduation began her career as a teacher in Chewelah, WA, about 50 miles north of Spokane. In the early 1940s, she moved to the Seattle area, teaching in the Kent School District and later transferred to the Seattle School District, teaching at Dunlap Elementary School.
In the early 1960, she was assigned as principal to Fauntleroy Elementary and at that time was the youngest woman ever hired as an elementary school principal in the Seattle School District. She later transferred to Gatewood Elementary school where she continued until retiring in the early 1970s. She was very proud of the Golden Acorn pin award toher by the Fauntleroy PTA.
While she was at Fauntleroy, she met and married the love of her life, Darigold milkman Carl Nyberg. Carl was a sweet and kind man who brought joy to Edna’s life. They were married in July of 1963. She and Carl spent many happy years in their home on Gatewood Hill, traveling yearly to Butte, Montana where Carl was born
Edna loved to play the slot machines and was always a lucky winner. In her later years, macular degeneration caused her to use a white cane to get around. This did not stop Edna from her weekly trip to the hairdresser and to the West Seattle Junction to shop. Former students would often greet her, introducing themselves and she always remembered them. In 2006 Joan Goodwin McDowell, daughter of the late Erma Goodwin, gave a 90th birthday party. People from throughout the state came to celebrate that milestone with her.
Edna was an unassuming humble woman, a stern disciplinarian and administrator, running a tight ship in the days when a woman principal had to be twice as good as a man. Under her administration boys were taught woodworking and both boys and girls were taught to sew on a sewing machine. Her many former students from the West Seattle area include politicians, attorneys, school principals, teachers and other highly successful members of society. Those students credit Edna with instilling in them the strong basics and disciplines for a successful and fulfilling life as contributing members of society.
Edna was a member of the Seattle First United Methodist Church, serving on the education board for many years and was on the Board of Directors of Bayview Manor Retirement Home. She was a charter member and a fifty-year member of Delta Kappa Pi, a professional sorority. She also belonged to the Retired Teachers Association and the Teamsters Union enjoying their monthly meetings. Edna met weekly with ‘the coffee girls,’ ladies who were in the teaching profession or old college friends.
Her husband Carl and her brother Herman Mundt predeceased her. She is survived by her sister, Irma Smith, nieces; Janice LaCombe Paul of Spokane, WA and Constance Kreitz, Florence, Oregon; nephews Randy Kathy Mundt of Pleasanton, CA, and Jim Mundt, Wisconsin, godchildren Betsy Bianco Hall, Sally Bianco Martin and Vanessa Bianco Brinkman, as well as numerous great nephews & nieces. The family also wishes to acknowledge special gratitude to her neighbors, Arnold, Pamela & Cynthia, who provided so much support and care for her over the past several years. Edna will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to either the charity of your choice or, the Shriners Hospital for Children, or to Ritecare Washington formerly Scottish Rite Center for Childhood Language Disorders.
Funeral services will be held at Bonney-Watson Parker Chapel in Burien at 2:00 PM, February 11, 2008 with burial at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Please sign the online memorial guestbook at www.bonneywatson.com.
Edna was a nice lady. I enjoyed working with her in Delta Kappa
Gamma Society. I will miss her.
Edna was a wonderful neighbor and will be sorely missed.
John Powers
While I never had the oppertunity to have her as a teacher, I had the fortune of having her as a neighbor and that was equally as rewarding.
Sandi Pettit, formerly Sandi Powers
Edna will be missed by all who knew and came to love her. Our condolences to her sister Erma, and her nieces and nephews. Edna shared so much of herself and was a true friend. She was principal for our children at Gatewood Elementary School and remained a good friend for the 40 years of our acquaintance. Our children often stated that they owed their successes in life to the start that Edna, as administrator of the school, gave them. Our son is an attorney, one daughter is a high school principal and another daughter is an elementary school teacher. Both girls have their Master’s Degrees. So many of Edna’s students went into the teaching profession and many of them became multilingual, speaking two or more languages. Edna and the teachers who were under her, sparked the love of learning. What more could you ask? We will miss her. When you go to Arbie’s and order a Beef and Cheddar, think of Edna with love. We will.
We would like to pass on our condolences to the Family and friends of Edna Nyberg.
ISteve Leider first met Edna on my first day of Kindergarten at Dunlap Elementary School in Seattle,WA in September of 1952. My parents became very good friends with Edna as she was my older brother’s teacher also. Over the years my parents kept in contact with Edna and then we moved to Kent,WA in 1960. It was not until the year of 2000 or 2001 that I met Edna again after 50+ years. We met at a Teamster Retirees luncheon in Renton,WA. How wonderful it was to see her again. I just couldn’t believe that I found my kindergarten teacher after so many years. I then brought my mother with me to a luncheon. What a wonderful reunion it was for me and my mother to see Edna after so many years.
My wife and I lead Mission trips all over the World since I retired and we told Edna about our trips and she was so interested. For some of our trips Edna supported us in prayer and financially and we would bring presents back from China for her and she was so excited about what we would bring her. One year we brought back some scarfs for her and she was pleased.
Edna was a wonderful person and I’m so glad I was able to see her and renew our frendship before she passed away. Edna was always so interested in how my parents and my brothers were doing.
I will never forget you Edna and you will always have a special place in our hearts.
I met Edna at the General Teamster Retirees Club meetings. She was a very genuine person, gracious, and supportive. When the GTRC Scholarship Fund was started to help the children of our active Teamsters members, Edna was at the head of the line to offer her generous support. It was so gratifying to have someone offer without being asked, as she did more than once.. Thanks again, Edna, you will be remembered and missed by all who had the good fortune to know you.
Sincerely, LeRoy “Brownie” Brown,
Retired S/T, GTRC