Virginia Evenson died Monday, April 25, 2016 at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 91.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 29, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo. Rev. Marie Eckberg will officiate and interment will be at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church for one hour before the services on Friday.
Virginia DeLine (Holstad) Evenson was born on April 6, 1925 to Henry and Agnes (Norby) Holstad; their first born child. She was baptized and confirmed at Swenoda Lutheran Church and has been a member at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo for many years. She was brought up on a farm in Cashel Township in Swift County. Her memories of her childhood were playing dolls with her sister, Margie; rocking her baby sister, Gloria; accordian lessons; walking to her one-room country school; helping her mother with household chores; and helping her father in the fields during Fall harvest.
Virginia was united in marriage to Orel Joseph Evenson on June 28, 1947 in the Our Saviors Lutheran Church parsonage in Benson. To this union, two children were born: a son, Gary Odell and a daughter, Gail DeAnn. They lived in Montevideo on East Lincoln Avenue where Virginia enjoyed being a mother and homemaker. She kept a large vegetable garden and tended to her lovely flowers including her vibrant pink peonies, some of which have been transplanted to her children and grandchildren’s homes. When Orel retired, Virginia kept the books for his part-time carpentry business.
She made lefse for Thanksgiving and Christmas always saying it was too thick but her family all knew that it was just right. She baked sugar cookies which she kept wrapped up in waxed paper, in a tin container, on the top shelf. Her granddaughter, Jill especially loved them and they were delicious. When Gary, Landy, and Jeremy stayed in Montevideo during their hunting trips, Virginia made her annual batch of klub and made sure it was served with plenty of hot, melted butter. They could never get enough of it!
Virginia also enjoyed polka dancing. She never missed a week going to the beauty shop in Montevideo. She loved animals but especially loved cats. Family remembers her love of jewelry and pretty clothes and would share her treasures with family and friends.
In her last years, Virginia enjoyed having her family together for birthday parties, including her 90th when a glass of beer was smuggled in for her. She really got a kick out of that day. 25 members of her family attended her 91st birthday. She also loved her daily phone calls from Gail, her calls from Gary, and many visits from her family. She enjoyed Polka music, Daniel O’Donnell specials on television, watching the Minnesota Twins, Dancing with the Stars, and General Hospital.
She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Each received a phone call, card, and gift for every birthday. She never forgot anyone, still making those phone calls when she was ninety years old.
She is survived by those who love her dearly: her son, Gary (Karin) Evenson; her daughter, Gail Evenson; grandchildren: Landis Evenson, Jeremy (Jenny) Evenson, and Jill (Brendan) Krasean; great-grandchildren: Taylor, April, Garrett, Grace, Gavin, Ellie, and Veronica; a sister, Margie; a brother, Dennis (Karen); many nieces, nephews and cousins; and sisters and brothers-in-law.
Preceding her in death were her husband of 56 years, Orel; her parents; two sisters: Violet and Gloria, in infancy; a brother, Darwin; and her great-grandson, Quinn.