Mavis Evenson

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 26, 2010

Mavis S. Evenson, age 91, of Joice, Iowa, died peacefully Tuesday, March 23, 2010, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Joice, Iowa, with the Rev. Bill Peters officiating. Burial will take place at Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, rural Joice.
Visitation will be on Friday, March 26, 2010, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 E. Main St., Lake Mills, Iowa, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Mavis Surene (Gangsei) Evenson was born on Jan. 8, 1919, in a log cabin in Winnebago County, Iowa, the daughter of Sever and Marie (Hanna) Gangsei. She was baptized at home and confirmed at Winnebago Lutheran Church. Mavis attended Delano Rural School near Joice and graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1937.
Following her graduation, Mavis worked at Milady’s Dress Shop, Stamp’s 5 & 10 Store, Bakken Grocery and Fleetguard Industries.
On Oct. 29, 1942, Mavis was united in marriage to Abner Evenson at the Lutheran parsonage in Joice. To this union, two children, Ann Marie and Marvin, were born.
Mavis lived in and around Joice until her recent move to St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. She was a faithful member of Bethany Lutheran Church for many years, where she was involved in circle, sewing quilts, WELCA, and maintained an active prayer list for those close and far away.  Her talents were making doughnuts, crocheting and watching and feeding birds. She loved her family very much, especially her grandchildren.
Survivors include her two children, Ann Marie (Bill) Satre of Albert Lea and Marvin (Marcia) Evenson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; grandchildren, Beth (Jason) Isaacson of Glenville, Julie (Ben) Shockey of Decorah, Iowa, Cynthia (Joey) Chyma of Cedar Rapids, Stacey Evenson of Cedar Rapids and Nathan (Julia) Evenson of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren, Will and Addie Isaacson, Shalin Hoelscher, Larsson Shockey, Parker and Lexi Chyma, Tyler, Cassie and Zoie Pasker and Leland Evenson; and many extended relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Abner on March 18, 1989; brothers Arden Gangsei and Richard Gangsei; three sisters, LaVerne Johnson, Beryl Farland and Norma Olson; sister-in-law, Ginny Thorvilson; two brothers-in-law, Mike Olson and Clive Johnson; nephews, Lon Gangsei and Brad Gangsei; and a niece, Cynthia Johnson.
“It is by the grace of the Lord that I have lived so long, by my trust and faith in the Lord.”