Glenda Edgeton

Glenda Jeanne Edgeton, 82, of Eagan, Minnesota, died peacefully surrounded by her beloved family in Burnsville, Minnesota, on July 26, 2025.

She was born in Jenkins, Minnesota, in 1943 to Glenn Risnes and Gertrude “Sis” Risnes (Kline). Glenda was raised in Pine River, Minnesota, by her mother, along with her two brothers, Phil and Dan. Like her mother, Glenda believed that family was everything. She and her brothers grew up in a fiercely supportive family village. Her Aunt Mody, like a second mother to her, and Uncle Kenny lived across the field, and her Aunt Rach, Uncle Bill, and cousin Sally were next door. The two cousins shared a sister-like bond. The two were inseparable, providing a lifetime of mutual love and support.

During grade school, Glenda was a Girl Scout and participated in youth fellowship and choir at church. In high school, Glenda was popular, well-rounded, and deeply involved in her school community. She participated in band, choir, Glee Club, cheerleading, and yearbook, and was inducted into the National Honor Society. She loved school and took her studies seriously, often gathering her girlfriends for group study sessions at her home. It was there that her friends also built a loving relationship with her mother. In 1961, she graduated as a co-salutatorian and was chosen to give a speech at her graduation. By all accounts, Glenda was brilliant. In another era, she might have pursued a college education and succeeded in any career she chose.

Glenda remained close with her childhood friends throughout her life. Carol Stai (Maust) and Marilyn Launer (Peterson) remained steadfast friends to the end. Glenda organized many class reunions and served as a connector among her classmates, regularly checking in and sharing updates as their lives unfolded.

Glenda met Russell Louis Edgeton in 1957, when they were both seventh graders at Pine River Junior High. By 10th grade, they had become official high school sweethearts. After graduation, when Russ enlisted in the Air Force in 1961, they stayed in touch by writing letters. Although Glenda was hesitant to “go steady” with an enlisted man stationed in Montana, Russ’s charm, humor, and persistence eventually won her over. They were engaged in November 1963 and married soon after in Pine River.

Following their wedding, Glenda moved to Glasgow, Montana. The couple first lived in town, then later relocated to the Glasgow Air Force Base. After Russ completed his service in 1965, they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where Glenda worked as a key puncher, translating human-readable information into early computer code.

Glenda and Russ were blessed with three children. Their firstborn, Todd Russell, arrived in 1967. Though his time on Earth was brief, just 19 days, he was deeply loved and remembered always. In 1969, while living in St. Paul, their daughter Stephanie Lynn was born. In 1971, the family moved to Eagan, and in 1972 they welcomed their son, Ryan Louis, completing their family.

During these years, Glenda was a devoted stay-at-home mom. She was a perennial “room mother,” known for helping with crafts and classroom parties in Stephanie and Ryan’s schools. As the children grew older, Glenda returned to work doing data entry, where she earned recognition for her accuracy and speed. When Ryan and Stephanie were in high school, Glenda supported their love of music by volunteering with the band boosters and fully embracing her role as a proud “band mom.” Thanks to Russ’s job at Northwest Airlines, the family also enjoyed travel perks and took memorable trips to Hawaii, Florida, and California.

In her free time, Glenda enjoyed spending time with friends going out for lunch and shopping. She also enjoyed catching the latest movies at the theater and liked visiting the casino as well as attending concerts, plays, and musicals. Her passion for travel never faded. She and Russ owned a timeshare, and for many years, she took annual trips to Arizona with her sisters-in-law. These getaways became a cherished tradition.

Later in life, Glenda and Russ enjoyed traveling together. They took memorable trips to places like Alaska, Missouri, and Virginia, and made annual road trips to visit their siblings and cousins in California and Arizona. They also made frequent trips to Pine River to visit their mothers and tend to their family roots. One of Glenda’s most meaningful traditions was placing flowers on the graves of loved ones at Pine Ridge Cemetery. She and Russ also enjoyed spending time with lifelong friends—bowling, going out to dinner, and playing card games.

Glenda believed in the power of relationships and worked to keep them strong. Her love of family and gift for connection extended across the branches of her life. As an aunt, she made a point of showing up to important events and celebrating their successes. As a sister, she not only maintained meaningful and loving connections with her brothers and their families, but also built the same loving connections with her brothers and sisters from her dad, becoming a source of warmth and belonging for them all.

Glenda’s commitment to family, love, and belonging never wavered. When Ryan introduced Michelle to the family, Glenda welcomed Michelle and her four children without hesitation. She never treated them as anything less than full members of the family; they were her beloved child and grandchildren. Her acceptance and unconditional love was a gift.

Glenda adored her grandchildren. She took joy in attending their concerts, plays, dance recitals, and sporting events, always cheering them on with pride and bragging about them to her friends and family. She loved being part of their lives, and they loved and appreciated her in return. From playing card games (even if the Skip-Bo rules got a little creative in the end) to sharing stories, they always knew they were loved. She NEVER missed celebrating their birthdays with a thoughtfully selected greeting card. And grandma was always good for a laugh or a clever comeback, too, often teasing grandpa or joking with them. In the final year of her life, the grandchildren returned the love she had so freely given—taking turns caring for her, offering companionship, and surrounding her with comfort.

Glenda’s legacy lives on in the lives she touched through her deep friendships, her devotion to family, her love for her children and grandchildren, and her enduring 70 plus year partnership with Russ.

She is survived by her adoring husband, Russell Edgeton of over 60 years; her brothers, Phillip (Dorothy) and Danny (Claudia) and siblings, Glenn, Pete, Mona, Blair, John, and Mike; her children, Stephanie Kapfer (partner Bill Fisher) and Ryan Edgeton (Michelle and former spouse Kerrie Stein); and her cherished grandchildren, Todd Edgeton, Connor Kapfer (partner Sydney Collins), Kieran Kapfer, Joseph Edgeton, Abigail Anderson, Madolyn Anderson, Kelsey Kapfer, Sophia Anderson, William Edgeton, and Griffin Anderson; many dear nieces and nephews; and a large group of treasured sisters-and-brothers-in-law and cousins with whom she shared many loving memories. Glenda was preceded in death by: her infant son Todd Russell; father Glenn Risnes; mother “Sis” Risnes; her dear Aunty Marjorie “Mody” Gardiner; and beloved cousin Sally Osburn.

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend a memorial service for Glenda Jeanne Edgeton on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, 3042 State Hwy 371 S, Pine River, Minnesota. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the chapel.

Following the service, there will be a burial at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Pine River. All are then invited to join the family for a luncheon at 12:45 p.m. at Bites Pub and Grub in Pine River.

In honor of Glenda’s love of bright colors, the family invites guests to wear something colorful to celebrate her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Glenda supported many causes near and dear to her heart, and giving in her memory is a meaningful way to honor her generous spirit.