Ediger, Sol N. (1903-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Mar 7 p. 11

Birth date: 1903 Jul 10

text of obituary:

SOL N. EDIGER

Sol N. Ediger passed away on Feb. 1 at the Dallas (Ore.) City Hospital at the age of 59 years, six months and 21 days. The son of John S. and Maria Nickle Ediger, he was born in McPherson County near Inman, Kan. on July 10, 1903, where he spent his early childhood.

In 1912 the Ediger family moved to the West, settling near Dallas, Ore. at Oak Villa where Sol spent his youth attending schools in the Dallas vicinity and business college in Salem.

On Jan. 1, 1931 he was united in marriage to Anna J. Neufeldt, also of Dallas, the wedding taking place at the Dallas E. M. B. Church. In 1936 they purchased a farm five miles north of Dallas, where they built their home in which they lived until the time of his passing.

Sol accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour as a youth, and at the age of 16 he was baptized by the late Rev. G. P. Schultz of Chicago, Ill., one of the evangelists holding meetings in the Dallas Church. He united with the Dallas Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church where he held membership until his passing. He assisted in the music of the church, singing in the choir, playing in the church orchestra, and later serving as choir director for many years. Sol accepted the responsibility of director of child evangelism for the state of Oregon, which post he held for eight years.

Two children were born to this union, Ernest J. Ediger, a teacher in the Lebanon schools, and Mrs. Joyce E. Harms, who together with her husband, Harold Harms, are serving as missionaries under the Congo Inland Mission. Rev. and Mrs. Harms flew home to attend the memorial services.

During the past few years Sol assisted his brother Herman, a manufacturer of church furniture in the installation of church pews throughout the Northwest.

Surviving in addition to his widow, son and daughter, are four grandchildren: a stepmother, Mrs. John S. Ediger of Dallas; 11 brothers and sisters, Mrs. Mary Dalke, Mrs. Margaret Zimmerman, and Cornelius N. of Salem, Ore., John N. of Santa Cruz, Calif., Mrs. Kathryn Harms of Salem, Henry N. of Dallas, Mrs. Louise Elrich, of Bakersfield, Calif., Mrs. Linda Kroeker of Dallas, Peter N. of Dayton, Frank N. of Salem and Herman N. of Dallas.

Funeral services were held in the E. M. B. church with Rev. Allan Wiebe officiating. Burial was in the Salt Creek Cemetery.