Edith Josefine Certalic

Edie was born Edith Josefine Maltry to Emil and Wilhelmina Maltry in the Rheinland of Germany on January 20, 1949. She grew up in the hard times following World War II. Edie was very close to her father, Emil, a German soldier who was badly wounded during the war. Her father died when Edie was only nine years old.

Edie had several brothers and sisters. She was especially close to her older sister, Renate Ruland, who loved her dearly and looked after her in a special way over the years. She spent some time in Oregon and Washington with her sister Renate, attended school and learned English and was a track athlete. Edie was always fond of America.

Edie met her husband Joseph at the Lili Marlene in Worms, Germany, where Joseph was a soldier stationed nearby. They fell in love, a love that lasted 58 years. Besides loving each other, they liked each other and were life-long pals, enjoyed doing things and being together. They were married on June 6, 1967, in a small chapel within a thousand-year-old cathedral in Worms. They returned to the states and lived in High Bridge, New Jersey, where they became life-long friends of Bob and Jackie Burd. They had three children, Joseph, born in 1967 and two babies, a girl and a boy, who died at childbirth. They moved to Montana in 1971.

Edie was a very accomplished lady. She worked as an aide in Special Ed at the Belgrade Schools for 15 years. She had a special rapport with the students. Edie had many hobbies and interests in which she excelled. She taught volleyball and loved horses and her dogs. She rode with the Bozeman Saddleites drill team for years. Edie was an excellent horsewoman, loved her mares and raised several foals.

Edie was a semi-professional photographer, taking excellent scenery and wildlife photos, especially bears. She loved to fish. But mostly she enjoyed being with her husband Joseph, fishing, packing elk, eating out, going for drives and much more.

Edie loved God and Our Blessed Mother. She was a devout Catholic.

Her health deteriorated over the last several years. She became diabetic and suffered much pain. She loved Dr. Pamela Hiebert who did her best to care for her. Edie bore her cross with dignity and courage. She passed away on October 18, 2024.

Edie possessed a rare and special sweetness and innocence. She loved her husband and children and her fellow man. She was a very special person.

Vigil and Rosary will be held Monday, October 28, 2024, 7:00 p.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 609 N Quaw, in Belgrade. Funeral Mass will be held the next day, Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 12:05 p.m., also at St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Edie’s honor are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 (www.stjude.org), or a charity of the donor’s choice.