Edna Jean (Gunderson) Alfson was born on May 29, 1923 at Britton, SD to Gilbert and Carrie (Lono) Gunderson. She married Olger Konrad Alfson on December 16, 1941, at Nunda, SD. They started farming in the spring of 1942 on a farm North of Nunda, SD. In the summer of 1946 she was stricken with polio and was in The Kenny Institute Minneapolis, MN for one year. Upon coming home she was in a wheelchair where she remained. In November 1963 the Alfsons moved into Volga, SD. On August 21, 1965, she and Olger lost a daughter, Ilowene Kay Alfson, to kidney disease. Then on September 1, 1967, she lost her beloved husband to a motor vehicle accident. On February 20, 2005 she lost a granddaughter Brandee Marie Williams to a motor vehicle accident. Edna Jean remained in her home in Volga until September 2009 when she moved to Park Place Assisted Living in Brookings, SD. In August of 2014 she moved to Bethel Lutheran Home.

While living in Volga she was a member of First Lutheran Church, answered the phone for Wolting Funeral Home and then for Eidsness Funeral Home. She also answered the phone for Stef Lebert. She took the news for the Volga Tribune. Her other interests included crocheting, reading her Bible and playing cards with all of her lady friends.

She is survived by one son, Gerald (Elaine) Alfson, of Madison, SD, and one daughter, Debra (Mike) Williams, of St. Peter, MN; two sisters-in-law; Dee Alfson of Madison, SD and Doris Alfson of Hartford, SD; four grandchildren; Bill Alfson & Karen Rogge of Balaton, MN, Eric Alfson & Angie Nelson of Madison, SD, Melissa (Kory) Reck of Wentworth, SD and Chad Williams and Michelle of Lake Crystal, MN; 13 great grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Olger, daughter Ilowene, granddaughter Brandee, four sisters and two brothers.