Ruth Evelyn Magnuson

LEWISTOWN ? Ruth Evelyn Magnuson, 82, died late Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, at Community Medical Center in Missoula. Evelyn has resided in Missoula since January 2004. She moved to Missoula to be close to family.

Evelyn was born June 18, 1922, in Bismarck, N.D., to Victor J. and Clara (Nelson) Engdahl. She graduated from Bismarck High School and Valley City State Teachers College.

On June 19, 1944, in Bismarck, Evelyn was united in marriage to Carl August Magnuson. They celebrated 57 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on Oct. 25, 2001. Evelyn taught school at one-room county schools in rural Wilton, N.D. The family moved to Lewistown in 1967 and she also taught at Moore and Brooks.

Evelyn was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon and was always available to help when she was needed for dinners and receptions. She was also a life member of Marie Chapter #36 OES and is Past Matron; was a Grand Representative of Tennessee in Montana and Grand Electa 1990-1991. In addition, she served as Mother Advisor of Lewistown Assembly #10 Rainbow for Girls.

Evelyn enjoyed sewing, needlework, crafts, cooking and traveling. She and Carl made some wonderful trips to Jamaica, Spain and Portugal. They also attended every family function, such as anniversaries, weddings, graduations and family reunions, that they possibly could.

Evelyn was loved by many and will be missed greatly and especially by two daughters, Sandy (Philip) Barney of Missoula and Corrine (Kip) Gjerde of Billings; seven grandchildren, Marit Kassion (Jim) Croak of Battle Ground, Wash., Sara Kassion (Andrew) Peterson of San Diego, Adria Kassion of Vancouver, Wash., Jeffrey Gjerde of Billings, Sona (Chris) Westerlund of Billings, Ross Gjerde of Denver and Blake Gjerde of Bozeman; two great-grandsons, Cole and Cade Westerlund; and a great-granddaughter, Kennedy Smith. In addition, she is survived by two sisters, Florence Oanes of Galesville, Wis., Hannah Giskaas of Great Falls; and sisters-in-law, Martha Magnuson, Ruth Johnson, Marjorie Magnuson, Connie Magnuson, Mabel Weiss, all of Bismarck, Mabel White of Vermillion, Kan., and Ada Johns of Sioux City, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl in 2001; a daughter, Judy in 1995; a brother, Charles Engdahl; and her parents.

Funeral services for Evelyn Magnuson will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Lewistown on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 1 p.m. Eastern Star Services will be under the auspices of Marie Chapter #36 OES.

A service will also be held at Perry Funeral Home in Bismarck on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Bismarck.

Memorials are suggested to First Presbyterian Church, 215 Fifth Ave. S., Lewistown, MT 59457; or to The Community Medical Center Foundation for the hospice room, 2831 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804.

Creel Funeral Home of Lewistown and Perry Funeral Home of Bismarck are in charge of arrangements.