Edna grew up in Pedro Bay, Alaska. Her father died of stroke when she was five. Her mother knew how to live in the bush, but did not know how to work in the city... so they were poor. But they worked at it. At age 14, because she had some education Edna's mother charged her with heading up a commercial fishing venture for the family. They did this for four years, then she went to Anchorage to go to school. Her mother soon died and left Edna feeling very alone. It was around that time that she learned about God.