Ida Elise (Stomne) EVANS

STOMNE, EVANS, IVERSON, CASTLE, WALSH, FREDERICKSON, BERDAHL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/9/2011 at 11:35:15

August 3, 1901 --- January 4, 2011

MASON CITY, IA - Ida Elise Evans, 109, died Tuesday, Jan. 04, 2011, at the Good Shepherd Geriatric Center, where she has resided since 2005. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at the church. Interment will be 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, the daughter of Hans Eriksen and Maria Dynnahagen (Iverson) Stomne. She graduated from Sioux City High School, Iowa State Teachers College and State University of Iowa and received her master's degree in education at the University of Chicago. She also attended Morningside College. he taught history and physical education in Belmond schools before her marriage to Melvin A. Evans on June 26, 1935, at St. Peters Church, Sioux City. 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, and 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 wives and LOVED the farm, the beauty of fields and open skies. She was a collector of coins and stamps. Ida volunteered at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Gift Shop and Good Shepherd (where she went to play games with the "seniors" when she was in her 90s). 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 the fall of 2010.

Ida is survived by her son, Robert Ames Evans and his wife Judith, Mason City; grandchildren Lance Nicholas and his wife Jana, Marian and Carisa Kaye Miller and her husband Chad, Van Horne; 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 (1/12/1998); sisters, Sophie Frederickson, Blanche Stomne and Mildred Berdahl; and brother Edwin Stomne; Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, IA.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
January 6, 2011