Ida Elise (STOMNE) EVANS

EVANS, SVEJDA, RALLS, AADLAND, STOMNE, IVERSON, MILLER, CASTLE, WALSH, FREDERICKSON, BERDAHL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/15/2011 at 17:30:34

Obituary - Ida Evans

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Iowa
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
by Richard Johnson for The Globe Gazette

Ida Evans - 'Sweet Lady,"
Also Iowa's 3rd Oldest - Dies at 109

MASON CITY — Staffers at Good Shepherd Health Center figured Ida Evans would be around forever.

The feisty 109-year-old resident loved coffee, oatmeal, sugar cubes, history, books and people.

"She just slowed down about the last week," Good Shepherd Administrator Mike SVEJDA said.

He said EVANS — listed as the third-oldest Iowan by the Department on Aging — died Tuesday morning, a granddaughter at her side.

"She really was a very sweet, sweet lady," said Robin RALLS, a nurse at Good Shepherd. "It is a terrible loss for us. She told me a couple of weeks ago she was going to make it to 110 because that’s an even number. We're going to miss her."

EVANS was raised in Sioux City, the third of four children born to Norwegian immigrants.

She met her husband, Melvin, a farmer in Belmond, after teaching in the school there for 15 years. They later moved to a Mason City-area farm.

The couple had one son, Bob EVANS, of Mason City, plus four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Ida EVANS came to Good Shepherd in 2005. She turned 109 last Aug. 3 and told the Globe Gazette that she did not feel her age.

"I think I owe it to my father and mother; they gave me a good body," she said.

"She was a super-nice lady. A lot of history," SVEJDA said. "And she was alert, able to visit. All of us have enjoyed her a lot. And her family was very super-nice, too."EVANS loved her coffee, and often ate handfuls of sugar cubes, Good Shepherd LPN Pat AADLAND said.

She enjoyed reading before her vision failed. And she knew her history.

"She was a very nice lady. We all loved her," AADLAND said. "She loved to eat. She would always say in the afternoon, 'Is it time for supper yet?' 'Is it time to eat?' 'I’m hungry.'"We all have fond memories of her. She was a very unique lady," AADLAND said.

~ ~ ~ ~
Clear Lake Mirror Reporter
Clear Lake, Iowa
Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Obituary - Ida Elise (Stomne) Evans

Ida Elise EVANS, 109, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, at the Good Shepherd Geriatric Center of Mason City, Iowa where she has resided since 2005. A funeral service was held Friday, Jan. 7, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean HESS officiating. Interment was at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Good Shepherd Telephone Reassurance, Zion Lutheran Church, or First United Methodist Church, Mason City.

Ida was born Aug. 3, 1901 in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Hans Eriksen and Maria Dynnahagen (IVERSON) STOMNE. She graduated from Sioux City High School, Iowa State Teachers College, State University of Iowa and received her master's degree in education at the University of Chicago. She also attended Morningside College. She taught history and physical education in Belmond, Iowa schools before her marriage to Melvin A. EVANS June 26, 1935 at St. Peters Church, Sioux City, Iowa.

Ida was a member of Chautauqua Club (a literary and Scientific Club), and Oweso Service Club. She was the oldest living member of Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake and had been active in circle and taught many years of Sunday School. Ida's interests included candy making, especially chocolates, raising roses and many other flowers. She was an avid reader of mysteries and history, American and World History being her favorites. She loved to read and study the U.S. Presidents and their wives; and she loved the farm, the beauty of fields and open skies. She was a collector of coins and stamps.

Ida volunteered at Mercy Medical Center Gift Shop and Good Shepherd (where she went to play games with the "seniors" when she was in her 90’s).

In the Fall of 2007, Ida was recognized as the oldest resident in Cerro Gordo County. Ida participated in a Boston University Centenarian Research Study in fall, 2010.

Ida is survived by her son, Robert Ames EVANS and his wife, Judith, Mason City; grandchildren, Lance Nicholas and his wife, Jana, Marian, Iowa and Carisa Kaye MILLER and her husband, Chad, Van Horne, Iowa; step-grandchildren, Jon CASTLE and his wife, Gina, Glenview, Ill. and Tammi WALSH and her husband, Tony, Circle Pines, Minn.; great-grandchildren, Steffanie and Allyson EVANS; step-great-grandchildren, Paul and Rachel CASTLE, Hannah and Leah WALSH and several nieces and nephews. Ida was preceded in death by her parents; husband Melvin (Jan. 12, 1998); sisters, Sophie FREDERICKSON, Blanche STOMNE, Mildred BERDAHL; and brother Edwin STOMNE.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2011

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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