Evelyn G. Ray, 89, of Luverne, formerly of Windom, died peacefully on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, at the Sanford Luverne Medical Center.
A memorial service will be Friday, June 16, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Windom, Minnesota. Arrangements are under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Memorials may be given in Evelyn’s memory to the family or sent to: MN VA-Luverne, P.O. Box 539, Luverne, MN, 56156, to be donated toward our country’s veterans. To sign an online registry, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.
Evelyn Gertrude Ray was born on July 8, 1933, to Peter and Katarina (Pankratz) Toews in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. She was baptized at the Bethel Mennonite Church and graduated from Mountain Lake High School in 1951. She then attended Mankato Commercial College.
While working at Kimberly-Clark in Windom, Evelyn was encouraged by co-workers to go on a blind date with her future husband, Eugene E. Ray. Two weeks later, on Sept. 6, 1954, she married the love of her life. They began their married life in Germany after Gene was drafted into the United States Army. When they returned from his service, they lived the “good life” on a farm north of Windom and raised their four children. Evelyn and Gene were often seen dancing and holding each other’s hands until Gene passed away on Sept. 14, 2017.
Throughout her life, Evelyn used her talent as a seamstress to sew hundreds of beautiful dresses and designed draperies. She contributed her time and talents to the First Presbyterian Church, was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and found joy in reading to her grandchildren and baking Zwieback and pies.
Evelyn is survived by her children, Wyn (Sonja) Ray of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Daryl (JoAnn) Ray of Windom, Wayne (April) Ray of Leesburg, Florida, and Catherine (Bruce) Jorgensen of Fargo, North Dakota; grandchildren, Tessa (Jeff), Jessica, Sarah (Trent), Scott, Brandie, Jennifer and Charlie; great-grandchildren Jackson, Aria, Amira, Makaio and Ciryl; sister, Mary (Dan) Engler; brother, Pete (Maureen) Toews; brother-in-law, Dwight Carlson; and many other family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene; parents, Peter and Tina Toews; sisters, Laura Bull and Verna Carlson; and other relatives.