Edward Fong Yang

Edward Fong Yang (Tsav Txhiaj Yaj) passed away peacefully on March 1, surrounded by the love of his family. He was a man known for his discipline, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to those he loved. Edward was born on March 16, 1962, in Village Sam Sem (Lima Site 112), Tasseng Thak, Chok, Muang Vieng Fa, Province of Xieng Khouang, Laos, to Nai Kong Kia Pao Yang and Song Vang. He grew up in a large and close-knit family with eight brothers and ten sisters. On April 12, 1984, Edward married Carolyn Thao Yang in Ban Vinai, Thailand. Together they built a life rooted in family, resilience, and dedication. In April of 1986, Edward immigrated to the United States, first settling in Chicago, Illinois. Seeking new opportunities for his growing family, he later moved to Minnesota in 1989, where he would spend the remainder of his life building a home and community. Edward valued education and hard work. He attended St. Paul Technical College, where he earned an Associate's Degree. Throughout his life, he demonstrated a deep commitment to providing for his family and creating opportunities for future generations. To his children, Edward was both a disciplinarian and a teacher. While he could be strict, every lesson he gave came from a place of love and a desire to see his family grow into strong, capable individuals. Through his guidance, patience, and quiet leadership, he shaped the lives of those who had the privilege of calling him Dad. Edward was a man who led not through loud words, but through steady presence. His quiet strength, wisdom, and determination left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn (Mai); his sons and daughters-in-law, Ada (Khrystie) and William (Linda); his daughters and sons-in-law, Ka Yeng (Eric), Nava (Nong), Mary (Pao), Josephina (Ty), and Samantha; as well as numerous grandchildren who will forever carry the lessons he taught, the values he lived by, and the love he gave in his own steadfast way. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in the family he raised and the lives he shaped.