On March 29, 2026, Maxine “Midge” Edwards celebrates her 95th birthday—a remarkable milestone for a woman whose life has been defined by hard work, creativity, family, and deep dedication to the Big Sandy community.
Midge was born March 29, 1931, in a rented farmhouse in Traverse County on the western edge of Minnesota. Her early childhood was shaped by both close family bonds and difficult circumstances. When Midge was just seven years old, her father passed away, leaving her mother, Laura (Geyer) Petrock, to raise four children on her own during the challenging years surrounding World War II.
Midge remembers her mother as a strong and determined woman whose incomparable work ethic carried the family through those difficult times. Despite the hardships, Midge recalls a childhood filled with chores—but also plenty of fun playing with her siblings.
She grew up with two sisters and one brother, all of whom have since passed away. One of her favorite childhood memories was playing with her sister Dotti (later Trepina) on the family farm in Minnesota. At a time when money was scarce, the girls shared a single store-bought doll that their mother could afford. They dressed it with great care, sewing outfits from scraps of fabric—early signs of the sewing skills that would later become one of Midge’s lifelong talents.
When Midge was 15 years old, in 1946, the family moved west to Big Sandy, where they lived on the farm of her uncle, Clarence Geyer, northwest of town. Her uncle and her mother were among the most influential people in her early life.
Big Sandy in the 1940s was a lively place, and Midge remembers that there was always something going on. During the school year she lived in the Big Sandy High School Dormitory, which was a hub of activity for students from rural areas. Community dances were frequent and well attended, giving young people plenty of opportunities to gather and socialize.
Midge’s life changed in 1950 when she married Keith Edwards. The two met through her friend Mona Edwards, who happened to be Keith’s sister. Together they began building a life centered around farming, family, and community.
On the Edwards farm, life was busy from the very start. Midge and Keith raised three children—Diane, Lochiel, and Craig—while running a demanding farm operation. Midge’s days often began at 5 a.m., preparing breakfast for Keith and his brother Ethan. She would then feed the children and drive them the three-and-a-half miles to their country school until they were old enough to drive themselves.
Farm life meant constant work. Midge maintained large gardens each year and spent countless hours freezing and canning food. The Edwards farm also kept hundreds of laying hens, which meant cleaning eggs, packing them for sale to grocery stores in Havre, and handling the many chores that came with poultry, livestock, and farm life.
At the same time, Midge remained deeply involved in the local country schools that her children attended. At Lincoln and North Star schools, she supported the students in many ways—including sewing rhythm band uniforms for the children. The schoolhouses also served as gathering places for Thursday evening church services.
In 1981, Midge and Keith moved off the farm to a home just outside Big Sandy that they largely built themselves. During construction, Midge taught herself to create stained glass windows and became skilled at laying tile, bricklaying, wallpapering, and furniture restoration.
Midge and Keith also shared a love of historic items from homestead days, preserving pieces of the past that reflected the region’s early history.
Living closer to town allowed Midge to dedicate even more time to community service. Over the years she has donated countless quilts and embroidered items to local raffles, fundraisers, and charitable causes.
One of her most significant contributions has been her involvement in the Big Sandy Museum and Historical Society. Working alongside Keith and other volunteers, Midge helped establish the museum and create several displays, including the old-time schoolroom and log cabin exhibits.
She also helped gather the memorial photographs that line the museum walls and contributed to the 928‑page Big Sandy Historical Society book “A Gathering of Memories,” published in 1990.
Midge and her sister Dotti Trepina were early cooks at the Big Sandy Senior Center and spent years helping there. The sisters even operated a house‑painting business in Big Sandy.
Midge also served on the board of the BSMC Medical Guild and as treasurer for the Methodist Church, volunteering for many years at the Medical Guild rummage sale and church craft and bake sales.
Looking back, Midge says the biggest change she has seen in Big Sandy is that the community has become smaller. Yet what she values most about living here has remained the same.
“The way people look out for the elderly.”
Family has always been at the center of Midge’s life. She and Keith raised three children—Diane, Lochiel, and Craig—and today she has three grandchildren and seven great‑grandchildren.
When asked which decade she remembers most fondly, Midge points to her twenties, when her children were young. Sundays often meant loading the kids into their green 1957 Ford station wagon and heading out for a drive. Sometimes those simple outings turned into adventures—climbing Centennial Mountain or exploring the White Rocks.
Another favorite destination was the Edwards ranch near Baldy Mountain, where the family sometimes stayed in the historic Madison cabin.
Midge’s creative talents have continued throughout her life. Quilt making and stained glass have been favorite hobbies, and today she still enjoys embroidery and sewing.
These days, what brings her the most joy are the simple things: looking out at the Bear Paw Mountains each day and visits from her family.
When asked what she is most grateful for after 95 years, Midge answers with a smile:
“That my kids turned out so well—with no police record! And that my health has been pretty good.”
The lessons she has learned are simple: live with the choices you make, be kind to others, and treat people the way you want to be treated.
And when asked if she would do anything differently, Midge says without hesitation:
“I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Her message to the community reflects the values she has lived by for nearly a century:
“Think of other people, and do what you can to help other people.”
