Edith Helen (Staples) Bilger

Edith Helen (Staples) Bilger passed away peacefully on Monday, July 7, 2025 at the Care and Comfort Home in Havre, Montana.

Edith was born to Ernest and Iris (Sanguins) Staples in Missoula on December 20, 1923.

She attended the Polly school and graduated from Turner High School in 1941 and then went on to Northern Montana College to earn a secretarial degree. Following graduation she went to work as the secretary for the president of Northern Montana College.

Edith married William (Bill ) Bilger Jr. in Turner at the Lutheran Church on May 24, 1948. They made their home on the Bilger family farm in Chinook. They operated the farm until the 1990's when they decided to retire and moved into Chinook.

Edith was a farm wife first. She raised chickens and sold eggs, potatoes, raspberries, and strawberries, cream etc. as well as did various jobs for the county helping prepare for elections at the courthouse.

She and Bill were avid square dancers. They loved the bus trips they took seeing Branson and other places they had read about. One of the high lights of their week was going to the Chinook Senior Center for coffee and cinnamon rolls.

She kept a beautiful yard and garden. She loved her outdoor flowers as well as her houseplants.

Bill passed away in December 2018. Edith remained in their home in Chinook until she moved to the Care and Comfort Home in Havre.

Edith was preceded in death by her husband Bill Jr., parents Ernest and Iris Staples, brother Donald and wife Peggy, sisters Mary Gill and husband Dan, Nellie Cederberg and husband Leon, sister in law Pauline Doughten and husband Robert, in laws William Sr. and Stella Bilger, nephew David Doughten.

She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks to the caregivers at the Care and Comfort Home in Havre.

The family suggests memorials be given to the Chinook Senior Center.

Services will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025 at the Wilderness Funeral Home with burial at the Kuper Memorial Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wilderness Funeral Home of Chinook.