Edna Mae Jorensen Winkler, 79, Greybull, passed away on Thursday, October 29, 2009, at the Midway Clinic near Greybull.

Edna was born Sept. 2, 1930, to Hilma and Harrison Smith of Tilford, SD. Weighing just barely four pounds, she spent the first week of her life in a shoebox inside the oven of a wood burning stove. Her twin brother, Earl Rae, spent that same week in a cradle next to the stove.

Between Sawlog Creek near Crawford, NE, and Pleasant Valley near Sturgis, SD, Edna and Earl grew to adulthood along with their four brothers, Irvine, Merlin, Harrison and Dave, and their sister, Anna.

On Nov. 18, 1948, Edna married Niels Kenneth Jorensen whom she had met and fallen in love with upon his return from serving in the U.S. Air Force during WWII.

They made their home on a ranch near Marcus, SD, during which time Yvonne Rae and Stanley Nels were born. In 1953, they moved to a farm on Sage Creek near Cody where Gwenda Lea was born. Their children were raised in and around Cody where in 1973, Kenneth passed away after suffering a fatal heart attack.

On July 5, 1975, Edna married Raymond A. Winkler of Greybull where they made their home for the next 34 years while Ray farmed and Edna worked at Williams Department Store. Ray passed away due to congestive heart failure on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, while Edna was in the hospital.

Edna enjoyed reading and gardening and spent many hours sewing handmade gifts for her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She especially enjoyed having coffee with her two dear friends, Nan Sanderson and Jeanie Peterson. She was also a member of the Eagles Auxiliary.

Edna is survived by her three children, Yvonne Rae (Spencer) Clark, Denver, CO, Stanley Nels (Susan) Jorensen, Evanston, and Gwenda Lea (Jim) Healey, Rawlins; seven grandchildren, Christine Marie, Kenneth Nels, Jessica Ann, William Morris, Darci Sabrena, Tylor Nels and Adrianna Nicole; nine great-grandchildren, Anthony, Alexis, Kyle, Reality, Marquee, Tyrel, Chase, Hailey, and Danika; two brothers, Merlin Smith, Powell, WY, and Dave Smith, Crooked River Ranch, OR; numerous nieces and nephews who always referred to her as their "favorite" aunt; three stepchildren, Kay Lynam, Basin, WY, Robert and LeRoy Winkler, both of Greybull, and their many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, many of whom loved her dearly and claimed her as their very own "grandma"

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday evening and 8 a.m. to time of services on Thursday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

A memorial fund has been established in memory of Ray and Edna Winkler at Bank of Greybull, 601 Greybull Avenue, Greybull, WY 82426 with proceeds to go to Midway Clinic.