Evelyn was born on January 21, 1922 in St. Michael, Minnesota, the youngest of seven children. Books and animals were among her special interests as she was growing up.

Evelyn entered the monastery at Clyde on August 14, 1939. She made her first profession on Aug. 30, 1941, and perpetual vows on Aug. 31,1946.

 Her uniqueness, creativity, freedom of spirit, joy and humor up to the end, as well as her many and varied interests marked her as a very special person. She loved life but did not fear death. She faced the cancer which eventually brought her death with great courage during her last fourteen years.

Sister served in our monasteries at Clyde, Mundelein, Tucson, and San Diego. Through the years her monastic labors found her in the altar bread dept., in the kitchen, in the correspondence dept., and contributing to the Liturgy as organist. She found that "the encouragement, spiritual uplift and comfort we can give to those in need through the ministry of correspondence is a most rewarding experience."

She viewed and seemed to experience prayer, work, play, hobbies and all that she did as truly being "in God and God in everything."

In 1987 Sister came to St. Benedict's Health Care Center. During this time she continued to be an inspiration to us as she took each day as it came to her, enjoying life and reaching out to others. She knew that her decision to discontinue life-prolonging measures was a decision to die and to pass into the utter fullness of God. Her choice enabled her to live her final days with dignity, faith and joyful abandonment.

On the fourteenth of August a group of sisters gathered in her room after the morning Eucharist and presented her with a lovely bouquet of flowers containing a butterfly and a balloon commemorating the 50th Anniversary of her entrance into religious life. 

She was able to, reminisce about that early morning arrival with her sister Rose. Nov. Jean and her guitar and all sang, "Morning Has Broken". From then on she seemed to lose life slowly but still wanted to eat some fruit from time to time. Sr. Joan Therese had been on the west coast and it seemed she was waiting for her to return. At about 6:10 on Thursday, Sr. Joan came home and went to sit with Evelyn. Our head nurse Cheryl, also came in and it was while they were with her that she breathed her last on March 4, 1989. Her humor and uniqueness will be missed by us all.