Doris Marion Evenson
(September 12, 1925 - January 31, 2019)

Doris Marion Evenson, 93, originally from Frederick, SD, went to spend eternity with Jesus Christ on January 31, 2019, at The Wellstead of Rogers.

She was born on September 12, 1925, on a farm in Frederick, SD to Peter and Grace Adeline (Sumption) Berg.  The young family moved off the farm and into Butler, SD where Doris spent most of her childhood and eventually sparked a strong interest in her young and dashing Butler School band director, E. Orville Evenson.

One major problem though was that with 5 ½ years separating them in age, she was still in High School and he probably looked at her as an interesting but giggly school girl.  WWII interrupted this budding romance but she told stories of how she and her sister Joyce would sneak out with their meager allowance and buy train tickets to go from Butler to Bristol just to wave goodbye to Orville as he went to war.

Apparently, it paid off because during her wait, countless letters were written back and forth across the ocean and the relationship blossomed and grew.  While waiting for the war to end, she started college in 1943 in Aberdeen, SD and earned room and board by keeping house for an elderly woman.  It was during this school year that she was introduced to the Lord through her sister's friend and she was soon baptized and confirmed.  When Orville returned from the war, they were married on August 25, 1946.

After the war, the newlyweds moved to Sioux Falls, SD so Orville could finish his degree and then moved to Clark, SD, then on to Boulder, CO, then a short time in North Platte, NE and finally landed in Aberdeen, SD where they spent over 50 years.

They were married for almost 65 years and they had five children:  Dianne, Lorene, David, Jeannette, and Douglass.  Doris loved her kids and very often sacrificed her comfort, time, resources and energy for their well-being.  It was very often that during any type of storm or if a kid just needed the extra comfort, she would sit outside their bedroom door at night until the "thunder" stopped.  She would squeal with joy during any of the kid's accomplishments and support them in all of their endeavors.

She loved serving the Lord in so many ways especially alongside her church family of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aberdeen.  She was active in women's church groups, choir, teaching Sunday school, quilting, and always willing to bless others in need of a visit or a friend.  She loved cooking and baking for her family or to provide a hot dish for someone going through a tough time.  She had an infectious "siren" laugh that could easily get others going.

After raising five children, Doris went back to college and completed her Elementary Education degree and taught in the Aberdeen Public Schools and gave private piano lessons.  In 2008, it became clear after some defining health events, the Evensons would be better off closer to their children and moved to Minneapolis, MN.

Doris is survived by her children: Lorene Dunphy (Todd), David Evenson (Marvene), Jeannette Amirizadeh, and Douglass Evenson (Laura); 12 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Orville Evenson, parents, Peter and Grace Berg; her brother, Marvin (Bub) and sister, Joyce, and her daughter Dianne.  Doris is home at last.

Funeral Services will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church, 7520 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN, on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 11:00 AM, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM.  Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 5851 Highway 12 E, Aberdeen SD at a later date.

Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home

Anoka 763-421-0220

www.thurston-lindberg.com