EDITH ELIZABETH BISILA

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Edith Bisila, 89, of Circle Pines MN, went to be with our Loving Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 17th, 2026, after a 4-week long illness in the hospital. She passed away at Unity Hospital in Fridley MN, with family members by her side.

Edith was born on December 3, 1936 in Embarrass MN to Emil and Saima Pyhala. Edith was the 6th of 10 children. She grew up on the Pyhala family farm in Embarrass MN, with the farm still in the family today. Edith's own mother Saima died when Edith was only 11 years old. Edith's older siblings helped their father Emil in raising the family after Saima passed.

As a teenager, Edith worked in a sinker shop pouring molten lead for fishing-line sinkers and also worked at Hibbard's Lodge near Ely doing House Keeping.

Edith graduated from Embarrass High School in 1954. She went to Glenwood Hills Nursing School in Golden Valley (in the Twin Cities area) and graduated as a Psychiatric Nurse in 1956. She worked as a Psychiatric Nurse at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth until she got married.

Don and Edith were married by Wilfred Sikkila (of New Hampshire) on June 5, 1965, in the Pike River Apostolic Lutheran Church, up on Minnesota’s Iron Range.

They started married life by living in Duluth, then later lived in the towns of Winter Wisconsin, Kettle River MN, Askov, Tower, and finally moving to Circle Pines in 1968.

Don and Edith raised 6 sons (Dan, Dave, Pete, Tom, Tim, and Phil), with Edith being a 'stay at home Mom' all those years. She also babysat for the neighbors.

When the sons were in school, Edith helped to teach the High Potential Students in the High School. She was also on a committee to look at objectional material to be removed from the school. This sometimes led to alternative courses offered to students whose parents did not want the objectional material taught to their kids.

Edith was a great cook and baker and would ALWAYS have an 'after school snack' ready for the boys when they got home from school. A favorite snack was Mom's freshly made home donuts! Whether it was a batch of donuts, cookies, bars, cake, etc, it seldom lasted until suppertime. The boys quickly devoured them all.

During the years while raising the boys, Don and Edith ministered at many Apostolic Lutheran Churches. Don preaches the Word of God, and many times Edith would play the organ or piano, at the places they were called to.

They went on many cross-country road trips with their boys, racking up hundreds of thousands of miles, from MN to the New England states, and from MN to the Pacific Northwest states, and down to the Southwest states. Quite often these road trips coincided with the Summer Conventions of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America. They also hosted many Christian friends and family in their home in Circle Pines. Edith also wrote many articles for the Apostolic Lutheran Christian Monthly publication.

Edith is survived by her husband, Donald; 6 sons with their wives: Dan (Diane), Dave (Laurie), Pete (Melissa), Tom (Lisa), Tim (Sharon), and Phil (Amanda); 12 Grandsons, 9 Granddaughters, 2 step Grandchildren,;3 Great-Grand Children; sister: Aili Nelmark; sister: Sandy (Bob) Mattila; sister-in-law: Edith Pyhala (brother Art's widow); brother-in-law: James Bisila; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Edith is preceded in death by her parents: Emil and Saima Pyhala; stepmother: Sanna Pyhala: brothers: Vester, Edwin, Francis, Art, Hank; sisters: Ethel and Anne; and Grandson: A.J. Bisila.

Edith was a life-long member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church, and she was a Bible believing Christian.

Visitation will be from 6-8 PM on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.  Funeral Services will be at 2 PM on Friday, February 27, 2026 in Apostolic Lutheran Church, Kettle River with a visitation at the church one hour prior to the service.  

Spring Burial will be in Leonard Cemetery, Kalevala Twp., Carlton County.

Arrangements by Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.