Evelyn Jensen Matthies passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, at the age of 81.

Evelyn was born June 24, 1936, in Albert Lea to Kermit and Violet Jensen. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1954, received a Bachelor of Arts at Mankato State in art and elementary education and received a master’s degree in art education from St. Cloud State.

She married Bill Matthies, her high school sweetheart, in 1956.

She was a Brainerd resident since August of 1959; taught high school from 1959 to 1962, and art and elementary at Baxter from 1963 to 1965; and was art director and an instructor at Brainerd Community College from 1966 to 1995. From 1990 to present she owned Evelyn Matthies Studio and Gallery. She and Bill established the Minnesota School of Diving Inc. in 1959 and the Underwater Commercial Divers Inc. in 1991.

Evelyn’s additional accomplishments include: authored book, “Images of the Mississippi River, A Combine of Ecology, Art and Botany;” illustrated book, “Searching for the Star Trillium” poetry by Maxine Russel; cover design and illustrations for Crow Wing County Anniversary Cookbook; and designed numerous commercial logos. She was also a mentor, teacher of workshops and a volunteer.

Organizations she was involved in were: founder of Brainerd branch of AAUW, founder of Minnesota Community College Fine Arts Festival for college students, art coordinator for nine college art study tours in Great Britain and Europe, Alpha Delta Kappa, National Art Educators, Minnesota Art Educators: Rural Minnesota Artists, Percentage for the Arts Selection Committee, Nature Printing Society, MCCFA, state COMPASS committee, C.A.P.P. committee, founder of the Brainerd Area Art Club, Trinity Lutheran Bell Choir, founder of the Crossing Arts Alliance, Crow Wing County Historical Society, National Preservation Society, charter member of Danish Sisterhood Amber Lodge No. 186, and being a part of the Danish immigrant artist series with the Danish Museum exhibiting work from January to July of 2010.

She also enjoyed singing in the Trinity Lutheran Church choir, and playing piano and clarinet. She completed her private pilot and instrument flight training and loved piloting her own plane in her spare time.

Evelyn is survived by her husband, Bill Matthies; and children Jim (Jazz) Matthies, Jane Matthies-Holtan (Keith) and Todd Matthies; as well as her grandchildren Beau (Lacy) Matthies of Mankato, Billy (Courtney) Matthies of San Diego, California, Dalton (Kinzie) Matthies of Mankato and McKinley Holtan of Anchorage, Alaska; and great-grandson, Tanner Matthies, of Mankato.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Trinity Lutheran Church and will continue the hour prior to services. Burial will be at a later date. Arrangements are with Nelson-Doran Funeral Home.