Edward R. Jung

Edward Robert Jung, 88, passed away February 8, 2021 in Great Falls.  He was full of life and energy, leading an active life until the end.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 3, at 3pm at Asper/Pondera Funeral Home in Conrad. Burial with military honors will be followed by a reception at the Conrad Moose Lodge.

Edward was born prematurely to Kathryn (Kasemaker) & Adam Jung on June 24, 1932 while she was walking behind a horse drawn plow. He along with five brothers and three sisters grew up on an active farm west of Osakas, Minnesota. While young he worked for various neighbors picking rock and staying in their hay loft.  He worked as a butcher, a profession that he would talk about for years. As hard as he worked, he always found time for practical jokes, such as catching bats and releasing in a movie theater during a scary movie.

After years of walking uphill (both ways) to school, Edward wanted to enlist into the Army. To do so he had to lie about his age.  He was stationed in southern California at Ford Ord for 2 ½ years.  After the service he started working for the railroad in Minnesota where at he met and married Jesse Jenkins. They had three kids, Michael, Kathy and Linda, he also took on stepdaughter, Ronita. He was transferred to Montana in 1958 where he worked in Valier. They had their fourth child, Dale.  They later divorced. In Valier, Edward met Lee Lucero. He became the Jung’s adopted brother.

In the mid-seventies he met Carolyn Rispen and her family, together having Barbie.   With a large-blended family they enjoyed years of fun, loud holidays.

Edward worked for 42 years on the railroad as foreman for the Great Northern Railroad that later became Burlington Northern as track maintenance. He continued his foreman skills years after his retirement. Even though you knew how to do something he would tell you how to do it. Yet, no one could out work him because he loved to work.

He loved being with his family and especially doting on his grandkids. He was truly the best Grandpa! Edward never missed a holiday or special occasion. The drawings he drew all over the cards and envelopes were more treasured than the gifts he gave.

He enjoyed cooking, fishing, deep sea fishing, hunting, planting trees, dancing, being outside, playing pool, arm wrestling, the Minnesota Vikings and boxing. But his greatest passion was gardening. He always raised a large productive garden, most of the time you found him with shoe in hand. His loved to cook and canned. Everything he grew went into his many ox tail stews. No one ever left his house hungry. Edward loved to tell stories and talk to everyone. He never met a stranger.

His last great passion was Lyla Barrey. He always said, “She saved me”. He called her “his angel”. They were together for sixteen years. He used his foreman skills on her but with a different approach. He told her to sit down and watch boxing, football, and westerns with him. They did a lot of canning, cooking, and dancing in the kitchen.

Edward is survived by the love of his life, Lyla Barrey of Conrad; his children, Kathy (Dick) Hodgson of Brady, Linda Jung of Conrad, Dale Jung of Sequim, WA, Barbie (Justin)Killion-Schram of Conrad, and Ronita Hengemuhle of Minnesota; grandchildren, Phillip Hodgson, Kayla (Roy) Wyse, Travis (Sidnee) Hodgson, Kaylea Killion, Averiana Schram, Stacey Witt, Chad Hengemuhle, and Amber Hengemuhle; 7 great grandchildren; brothers, Donnie Jung of Great Falls, Paul (Sally) Jung of Port Angeles, WA, and Gary Jung of Sequim, WA; sister, Mary Ann (George) Butterfield of Seattle, WA; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Kevin, Dickie and adopted brother, Lee Jung; sisters, Elaine Tweet and Audrey Crumpacker; son, Michael Jung; granddaughter, Mari Jung; and son-in-law, Jason Killion.

The family is asking in lieu of flowers that a tree is planted in Edward’s memory as he planted trees everywhere he thought needed one.  Donations to purchase trees to beautify the Conrad Walking Path can be made out to Pondera Healthcare Foundation, designated to Pondera Pathway in memory of Edward Jung.