Heidi Susan Herdrich Edmonston

Born: April 28, 1981 Died: Nov. 4, 2007

Heidi Susan was a rare and precious flower in God's garden. Having struggled with health problems the past several years and her doctors unable to find the cause of her illness, our heavenly father gathered her unto him unexpectedly and quietly, giving her eternal peace.

Heidi was born at Deaconess Hospital to Norman and Susan Herdrich. She lived her entire life in the Spokane Valley and attended McDonald Elementary, Evergreen Jr. High, and Central Valley High School. She was a member of the class of 1999. She was a lifelong member of Spokane Valley United Methodist Church and particularly remembers her time there with Pastor Bob Roberts and Julie Roberts. During that time Heidi played flute, bells, sang in the youth choir, was an acolyte, and a youth lay reader.

Heidi was active in Camp Fire. She also enjoyed art and music. She could hear a song once and know the music and lyrics by heart. She had many gifts which she was never able to fully use in her all too brief life. She worked a number of jobs and proved a capable worker, making us proud. She also had her difficulties in life and struggled with them, faced them, and tried to become a better person.

Heidi married the love of her life, Roy H. Edmonston. They adored each other. They shared a love for movies of all sorts. They loved to laugh. And because she was needed, Heidi left her husband to live with her maternal grandmother, Mary Webb, for a year and a half in Ritzville. Roy would commute from Spokane to visit Heidi.

Then Roy and Heidi moved to Fredricksburg, Texas, to join his family. We all hoped the warmer climate would help her feel better. After a serious illness this summer, she seemed to be doing better. Heidi was preceded in death by all four of her grandparents Fred and Florice Herdrich of Spokane, James and Mary Webb of Ritzville. She leaves her husband Roy, father-in-law George, mother-in-law Cindy, and sister-in-law Marion Edmonston of Fredricksburg, Texas; brother- and sister-in-law Merlin and Jessica Edmonston of Coos Bay, Ore.; her parents Norm and Sue Herdrich, sister and brother-in-law Kristin and David Ryan of Spokane; and sister Megan of Wilmore, Ky.; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

A service will be held in Ritzville at the Trinity United Methodist Church on Nov. 16, 2007, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who wish to honor Heidi do so by either making memorials to the Shriners' Hospital (where she once was a patient) or to the Ritzville Trinity United Methodist Church where her Grandma Mary had long been a member. A Celebrate Recovery Endowment at the Ritzville church will be established in Heidi's name to honor her struggle in this life: "Hier auf Erden bin Ich ein Pilger/und mein pilgern und mein pilgern virt nicht lang. . . ." (Here on earth, I am a pilgrim/and my pilgrimage and my pilgrimage will not be long. . .) Danekas Funeral Home-Ritzville is handling arrangements.