Evelyn Oftedahl

2025 - 2025

The funeral service celebrating the life of Evelyn Oftedahl of Sauk Centre and formerly of Eagle Bend was held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 24, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Eagle Bend with Pastor Allen Mortenson presiding. Burial was at the Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Eagle Bend.

Evelyn, age 97, passed away on October 17, 2025, at her home in Sauk Centre, MN, with tender care provided by CentraCare Hospice.

Evelyn was born on March 21, 1928, in Amery, WI to Nels and Hedvig (Lindberg) Anderson. Her family moved to Eagle Bend when she was 10 years old, to the Lindberg farm which is still to this day an Oftedahl farm. She attended country school and then graduated from Eagle Bend High School in 1945. She went to Minneapolis to business school and worked at Pillsbury Mills for 2-1/2 years.

Evelyn returned to Eagle Bend and married Halvor Oftedahl, Jr. on October 16, 1948, at Petri Lutheran Church. She was a farm wife who drove tractor, milked cows, unloaded hay bales and had a large garden which provided for her family. In 1980, they built a home in Eagle Bend, and she loved her garden, flower beds and had more time for quilting. She made many quilts for the church missions and graduates. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were blessed with baby, graduation and wedding quilts.

Her faith was very important to her. She was very active in her church, being a member of WELCA, member of the Faith church council and always there to work in the kitchen. She was given the Mary Magdalene Award from the Women of the ELCA for her work in the church. She was a member of a Homemakers group, enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins (until they were too far behind), reading, doing puzzles, traveling and camping with her family. She was glad she and Jr. were able to travel during their years in town. Bus trips, trips with her children and camping trips were special to her. They enjoyed taking grandchildren and great-grandchildren on fishing trips.

In February 2023, Evelyn moved to Sauk Centre to live with her daughter. Her golf cart came with her, and she enjoyed her rides around her new neighborhood, making new friends.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband Halvor Jr., parents Nels and Hedvig Anderson, brother Elmer, sister Delores and granddaughters Brandiss Oftedahl in 1992 and Jackie Kolstad in 2007.

She is survived by her children Daniel (Sherry) of Eagle Bend, Valerie of Sauk Centre, Bruce (Linda) of Long Prairie, Myron of Glencoe, and Philip (Margaret Mary) of Crystal; grandchildren Brent (Amy) Oftedahl, Jennifer (Tim) Rohloff, Stephanie (Matt Cummings) Oftedahl, and Jonathan Oftedahl; great-grandchildren Tyler, Brandon and Lane Oftedahl, Lorisa Carkhuff, Brandi DeClercq, Koby Rohloff, Jordan Oftedahl, and Dacotah Kolstad. She is also survived by her additional grandchildren, international Foreign Exchange students: Janek Albinsky (Germany), Tessa Eriksson (Sweden), Camilla Eriksen (Norway), Sanne Peterson (Denmark), and Sorachat (Ice) Rattanajitti (Thailand). It was with great joy when her family grew to include eight great-great grandchildren (six of them her "babies" aged 4 and under) Alayna, Stella, Raelynn, Mariah, Brooklyn, Lydia, Parker, and Tyler Jr. Grandma loved to hold her babies. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Darlene Oftedahl and Karen (Dennis) Beach. A special thank you to "adopted daughter" Donna who helped care for Evelyn the last 2-1/2 years.

She was a special mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many. Evelyn has been blessed in many ways as she has blessed so many.

Arrangements with the Schuller Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Bertha, MN. (www.SchullerFamilyFH.com)