Edith Licina Drey was born in Mission, South Dakota on December 12, 1932 to Charles and Olive (James) Rang and she died January 31, 2026 at the Avera Gregory Healthcare Center in Gregory, South Dakota at the age of 93 years.

Edith was baptized in the Catholic Church at St. Francis, South Dakota, she was joined by one brother and two sisters. In 1937, Charles and Olive purchased a farm at Burke, South Dakota, moving the family there. Edith made her first communion and was confirmed in the Catholic Church in Burke. She attended the McCumber Country School, walking 2 and 1/2 miles each way.

Edith was an all around farm girl. There were chores to do before and after school and the summers were spent staking hay. She also had a team of mules that she used to rake hay.

In 1954, she met and married Gerald Drey at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke. They moved to a farm south of Burke where they started their family of Bruce, Jackie and Rodney. They farmed until 1964, moving to Burke. She had many jobs retiring from the school as a custodian. After Gerald’s death, Edith remained in the house.

Edith was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Gerald; her brothers Charles, Louis and Kenneth; sisters Esther and Eunice; brothers-in-law Lyle, Marvin and Vernon; sisters-in-law Vivian and Lynn and a nephew, David Liebel.

Edith is survived by her children: Bruce, Jackie and Rodney; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson and several nieces and nephews.