Edna Bartlett, 83, of White River, SD passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Winner, SD. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 10:00AM at the White River Event Center in White River. Burial will follow in the White River Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the services.

Edna Marie Larsen Bartlett was born Easter Sunday, April 21, 1935 in Central City, South Dakota to Carl Larsen and Eva Frances (Bruning) Larsen. Edna was born prematurely, weighing in at a whopping 3 pounds. The doctor wrapped her in a blanket, placed her in a box in a corner, and told her parents, "Keep her warm, and feed her when she cries. If she lives, she lives. If she dies, she dies, good luck, and then left them to take care of her!" and that's just what they did.

Edna lived in and around Wood and White River all of her life. She graduated from White River High School in 1953. Edna started working as a telephone operator in 1950 when she was a sophomore in high school, a position she held until November 1955 when the system switched to dial.  Edna was united in marriage to Ray Wesley Bartlett (August 17, 1930-September 8, 2000) on February 22, 1955. Ray and Edna ventured into business the first year of their marriage when Ray suggested that they purchase the pool hall on main street named "Ray's Pool Hall'', which Jack Hight wanted to sell.  Edna's first thought was, "Why would we want to do that?" Her second thought was that it might not be a bad idea because it seemed that Ray spent most of his free time there anyway! Her telephone company termination pay was used as a down payment on the Pool Hall. In 1961 they built a block building for a feed business along highway 83, which they ran for a few years with Ray's brother Kirk called, called Bartlett Bros Trucking. In 1963 they sold the pool hall on Main Street and turned the feed building into the E&R Recreation, now known as the "Gus Stop." They also ran a livestock feed business called the C.R.C. Supply, which was sold in 1984.  Ray and Edna were in business in White River for over 40 years. Edna was also employed by Mellette County for 20 years as Deputy Treasurer and on November 7, 1984 she was elected as Mellette County Treasurer, starting this position on January 7, 1985 and retiring from that position in 2000. Edna was also the City Finance Officer for White River for five and one-half years.

Edna enjoyed many hobbies, from crocheting, knitting and painting to following her Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren to all their activities, which included baseball, basketball, wrestling, and rodeo.

Grateful for having shared her life are children Clint Bartlett of White River, Carl and his wife Cheryl Bartlett of Tea, Sabrina and her husband Richard Harmon of Newell, Amanda and her husband Tim Hill of White River.  Sixteen Grandchildren; Matthew, Lanson, and Christian Bartlett. Kevin (Sara) Bartlett. Dustin Schmidt. Kassi (Kyle) Barry. Courtney (Thomas Jr) Barrera. Custis (Samantha) Harmon.  Rozen (Emmylu) Hill. Heath (LuKasey) Hill. Shaylee Hill. Terami (Rian) Edwards. Lucille Marshall. Brook (Owen) Hall. Tabatha (John Mundlien) Harmon, Thomas Harmon. Thirty-Six Great-Grandchildren; Elliott, Brenna, and Channing Bartlett. Olathe, Trayer, Rhone, and Hazin Schmidt. Kash Krogman, Kason and Kyra Barry. Braylee, Brynlee, Ryker, Brylee Barrera.  Braxton Harmon, Kalibur and Amelia Mundlien. Richard and Abigail Harmon.

LaKayah Lucas, Tyson, Taten, Treston, Traven, Treldon, and Tinzen Hill. Chaela and Mikaela O'Leary. Remington, Citori, and Ruger Edwards. Alexis & Ashton Dean-Hill.   Ada, Ella, and Emma Hall. One Brother- Elvin (Sonny) Larsen- Sturgis, SD.

Edna was proceeded in death by her husband Ray Wesley Bartlett; Her Father Carl Larsen, Mother Eva Bruning Larsen Mckee, Step-Father Roy McKee; one sister Beverly Jean Weeks, and daughter-in-law, Julia Charging Whirlwind.