Helen Delores Evanson

Helen Delores Evanson, 91, of Waukon, IA, died Friday afternoon, January 20, 2017, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 28th, at 11:00 AM at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, IA, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon and one hour before services Saturday at the church.

Helen Delores Aure Evanson was born May 11, 1925, in Waukon to Haftor and Emelia (Engen) Aure. Helen was baptized and confirmed at Old West Paint Creek in rural Waterville. She was raised on the family farm and attended the Fan School in rural Waukon. On May 23, 1945, Helen married Melbourne Rema Evanson at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church. They farmed for over fifty years near Waterville, where they raised their children. Helen worked as a nurse's aide at the Good Samaritan Center for several years in addition to helping on the farm. In 2006, she moved to Waukon and lived independently past her 90th birthday.

Helen was a long time member of Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and was a faithful participant in the Naomi Circle working on hundreds of mission quilts and layettes, baking pies for food sales, and serving meals for a number of occasions. She loved playing games, sewing quilts for grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and cherished time with family who will miss her so.

Survivors include her children: Shirley and David of Waukon, Phyllis (Bob) Waters and Sandra (Bob) Reinke of New Albin, IA, Mary (Bill) Bleckwehl of Northfield, MN, and Steven (Sheryl) and James, both of Waterville; stepdaughter Linda (Bob) James of Grants Pass, OR; fourteen grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; sister Lillian Larson; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; daughter Nancy; daughter-in-law Vicki Evanson; sisters: Mildred Steffenson, Evelyn Hanson, and Alida Riek; and her parents.

Honorary casketbearers will be Helen's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are her grandsons Mike and Tyler Bleckwehl, Dan Reinke, and Aaron, Aarik, Aandi, Elliott, and Keith Evanson.