A Service of Remembrance was held Thursday, May 18, at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson for Mary Evelsizer, 84, of Fairmont, MN, formerly of Ogden.
Words of comfort were offered by Pastor Jim Fleming of the Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fairmont, and Pastor David Schroeder of Abundant Life Ministries in Jefferson.
Casket bearers were her grandchildren, Dan Evelsizer, Vince Evelsizer, Jana Olson, Ross Evelsizer, Dr Stephen Evelsizer, Dr Andrew Evelsizer, Sarah Gibbs, Aimee Evelsizer, Gina Morgan and Lisa Hernandez. Interment was at Brethren Cemetery in Panora.
Mary Ann Rice Evelsizer was born in Guthrie County, IA, on May 17, 1932, the second of five children born to Ralph and Thelma (Gander) Rice. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Bagley Iowa High School. That summer she worked as a nursing assistant at the Greene County Hospital. It was there in Jefferson that she met Jerry and they were married March 4, 1951, at the Christian Church.
Mary bore four children (one stillborn) and in 1959 they moved to Des Moines where her husband began college and then seminary to prepare for the ministry. They served five churches in Iowa before retiring in 1995. They made their home in Ogden for 17 years, serving several interim churches before moving to Fairmont, MN, to be near son Bob and his wife Gwen. Mary’s primary interest was always her family, and she faithfully assisted Jerry in pastoring. Out of her caring for others she built a business sharing Shaklee health products.
Mary Evelsizer passed away May 15, 2017. in Fairmont at the age of 84 years. Preceding her in death were her parents; sister Wilma, son Stephen, and brother Larry.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Jerry, of Fairmont, MN; two sons, Dennis (Cathy) Evelsizer of Decorah and Dr. Robert (Gwen) Evelsizer of Fairmont; daughter Diana (Donald) Morgan of Iowa City; grandchildren Dan Evelsizer, Vince (Andrea) Evelsizer, Jana (John) Olson, Ross (Laura) Evelsizer, Dr. Stephen (Annie) Evelsizer, Dr. Andrew (Kate) Evelsizer, Sarah (Steve) Gibbs, Aimee Evelsizer, Gina Morgan (fiancé Dan Bartleson), and Lisa (Oscar) Hernandez; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters Lola Booth of Madrid and Joyce (Edward) Hassing of Randall, MN; sister-in-law Mary Rice of Decorah; and other relatives and friends.
