Edith Lagundo Messerich, 102, of Waite Park, passed away in the early hours of May 27, 2024, surrounded by family in Grey Eagle (Big Birch Lake).
Edith was born in Washington DC to Raymond and Helen (Whalen) Lagundo Jan. 17, 1922. Shortly before her second birthday her father took a job with the U.S. government in Red Lake. She grew up on the Red Lake Indian Reservation until she was 14 years old.
The family returned to Washington, D.C., where she graduated from high school at 16 years old. She loved playing tennis on the national mall. She returned to Minnesota to attend the College of St. Benedict (being the first woman to attend classes at St. John’s University). Upon graduating in 1942, she worked for the Filipino Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Following the end of World War II, she taught high school in Prince George’s County, Maryland, before returning to Minnesota to teach in Park Rapids; Grey Eagle; Melrose; Phelps, Wisconsin; Karlstad; Randolph; Mexico City, Mexico; and Cotter School in Winona. She earned her library degree from Hamline University in the 1970s.
She married Victor Messerich in 1949. Their first home was in Grey Eagle, where the Catholic church stands today. Vic and Edith moved to Pickville, outside of Melrose. She produced plays for the Pickville Players (neighborhood kids), 4-H club and other community groups.
Edith was a member of Melrose Country Club and women’s golf leagues. You could find her on the course at 7 a.m. every day of the week.
Edith loved to travel and wanted to see as much of the world as possible. In the last months of her life she traveled from Hawaii to California to Florida and then home to Minnesota. She taught her children and grandchildren the value of an education in the classroom as well as seeking real-world knowledge.
Edith is preceded in death by her husband, Victor; son Marc; father Raymond; mother Helen; and siblings Raymond, Jr., “Ding”, Mary and Mona.
She is survived by her son, Stephen (Charlene); daughters Pat (Ajay), Mary and Vicki (James). She has seven adoring grandchildren, Stephanie, Bradley, MaRya, Maureen, Michael, Priya and Christopher); six great-grandchildren, Damon, Saige, Hailey, Kaleb, Owen and Lila; and soon to be a great-great-grandchild.
Services are scheduled for 11 a.m., September 21, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grey Eagle with lunch and reception following at Guy Waymore’s Red Barn, 10855 Angler Trail, Grey Eagle.
