Evelyn Marion Thode, 92, Luverne, died Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.
A funeral service was Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial followed at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Evelyn Swenson was born Feb. 22, 1925, to Charles and Rose (Olson) Swenson in Luverne. She was raised on a farm in Springwater Township, Rock County. Evelyn was baptized on July 19, 1925, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Luverne and confirmed on July 19, 1939. She attended Springwater Township Country School and Luverne High School. Evelyn’s first job was Hack’s Worthmore Egg Candling Processing. She moved to Spokane, Washington, for a short time and worked in a bakery. When she returned to Luverne, she began to work for Forrest Dairy Ice Cream Store.
Evelyn married Clarence Thode on May 19, 1949, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Luverne. The couple made their home on a farm west of Hardwick. Clarence and Evelyn retired from farming in 1994. Clarence died on Sept. 27, 1997, and Evelyn moved to Luverne on Feb. 28, 1998. Evelyn was able to stay in her home until she became a resident of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne in October 2012.
Evelyn was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and participated in various church ministries: Ways and Means, sewing, back to school kits, and funeral group. Evelyn was a member of the Denver Extension Club. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening and reading. She loved bingo and entertaining family and friends.
Evelyn is survived by four children, Gerald (Mary) Thode, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Pamela Schmidt, Tea, South Dakota, Joyce (Larry Mulvihill) Thode, Luverne, and Brian (Rita) Thode, Jasper; a daughter-in-law, Gayl Thode, Pipestone; 12 grandchildren, Michelle Thode, Brian (Toni) Schmidt, Michael (Jennifer) Thode, Mark, Laura and Krista (fiancé Tylan Vanderwal) Thode, Jason (Marissa) Thode, Roxanne Thode, Renae (Kawika) Afelin, BriAnna Thode, Brooke (fiancé David Bryan) and Nicole (Colton) Damm; 17 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Virgene Swenson Bullis, Luverne.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; a son, James Thode, a son-in-law, John Schmidt; a grandson, Mathew; great-grandchildren DeShawn and Alixzandria; her parents; three brothers, Charles (Cecilia) Swenson, Douglas Swenson and Robert Swenson; and a brother-in-law, Lawrence (Leona) Thode.
Arrangements were by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
(0928 F)