Edna Lorraine Riley, age 92 of Brookings, passed away Monday, October 28, 2019, at Edgewood Vista in Brookings. Funeral Services will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday, October 31, 2019, at First United Methodist Church in Brookings with visitations starting at 10:00 A.M.  Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Edna was born July 10, 1927, in Huron, South Dakota, to John and Alice (Meyer) Eckmann. She attended a one-room country school (Richland #1, Rudy School) for eight years before attending and graduating from Cavour High School. She then attended South Dakota State College for two years. In 1947 she married Robert Leo Trenary and together they had two sons and two daughters. During this time she was a 4-H leader, taught Sunday school, and was an active member of the Methodist women's group, Extension, and The Federation of Women.

She and her husband Bob were also active in the Young Men and Women's group. During their marriage they lived in various towns including Marshall, Minnesota, and Brookings, Huron, Lake Preston, Mobridge, and White River in South Dakota. Edna taught Head Start at Wakpala on the Standing Rock Reservation and worked as an Extension Aid in Todd County, South Dakota. After Bob died in 1974, Edna returned to Brookings to complete her B.S. degree in home economics at South Dakota State University and went on to receive a master's degree in guidance and counseling. She used her degrees working within the community at the Brookings Senior Center and at the Brookings County Extension Service.

Edna married Marvin Pershing Riley on May 1, 1976. They enjoyed traveling, dining out, and entertaining family and friends. Edna was very active in the Brookings community, giving ceramics classes to children and adults in her home and helping dozens of children in the creation of their 4-H projects. She also held offices in the Methodist women's organizations and various Extension clubs. She was a member of the Faculty Women, President of the American Cancer Society, the Memorial Art Center Guild, the Association of Home Economics at SDSU, TOPS, PEO, and the Dakota Doll Club. Many in Brookings knew of Edna as "the doll lady." Along with ceramics and her other many hobbies, she started crafting porcelain dolls in her basement studio in 1986, eventually making over 200 dolls. She loved the life-like baby dolls best. Besides her dolls, Edna enjoyed sewing, gardening and was an avid reader.

A child of the dust bowl and the Great Depression, Edna was a strong woman with a resilient spirt and quiet resolve. She endured life's hardships with persistence and grace, and took pride in her family. Edna was a child at heart, especially about her own birthday, and she loved celebrating that milestone each year with friends and family.

Edna is survived by her good friend Clayton Sloat, of Brookings, and her children: Robert John Trenary (Maud, Texas), Phillip Eugene Trenary and wife Terrie (Grand Junction, CO); Gail Lynette Krogman and husband Harold (Mission, SD) and Deanna Sue Gilkerson (Brookings, SD). Edna also had ten grandchildren: Derrick (Melissa) Krogman, Dustin (Beth Till) Krogman, and Mandy (Travis) WoodenKnife, Jenny (Casey) Einrem, and Danny (Beth) Trenary, Nathan (Melissa) Gilkerson, Lee (Amanda Huber) Gilkerson, and Susan (Paul) Deutsch, Rich Rust and Staci Smith, and 15 great-grandchildren: Arin and Dylan Krogman; Precious, Kenzie, and Haysten WoodenKnife; Dakota and Laken Krogman; Truman and Anders Gilkerson; Charlie Deutsch; Jasmin Einrem; Sienna Trenary; Casey and Landon Smith; and Xander Gunter.

She is also survived by her sister, Esther Gilchrist, her brother, Ervin Eckman (Jean), and many cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as many great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Alice Eckmann, her first husband Robert Leo Trenary, her second husband Marvin Pershing Riley, her sister Neva Hammer, her brothers-in-law Gil Hammer and Warren Gilchrist, her daughter-in-law Jan Trenary, and her son-in-law David Lee Gilkerson III.