Frances Evans

EVANS _ Frances Marie Frances Marie Evans of Parkland and Nanton, the beloved mother of Rhondda Hartman of Denver, Colorado and Clarice Evans Siebens of Calgary, passed away in her 97th year on Sunday, May 1, 2005 in Calgary. She was born May 25, 1908 in Rugby, North Dakota. Frances was predeceased in 2000 by Redvers Baden Evans, her beloved husband of sixty-seven years. This beautiful lady will always be remembered and loved by her extended family, her friends and her former students. Grammie is lovingly cherished in the hearts of her two daughters and their families: grandson Joseph and Kendra Hartman and their son Austin of Denver; granddaughter Claryss Nan and Crawford Jamieson and their sons, Ford, Rhys and Hart of Hong Kong; granddaughter Rienne and Russell McElyea and their sons, Jon and Reed of Bozeman, Montana; granddaughter Allison Hartman and Mark Bell and their daughters, Lillian and Ashby of Denver; grandson Richard Hartman and his daughter Rienne of Denver; grandson Carter and Ellen Siebens and their sons, Renner and Dane of Calgary; granddaughter Rhondda Siebens and Troy Moller and their son Kjell of Calgary; granddaughter Evann Siebens and her fiance Keith Doyle of New York City. Frances, the eldest of the three children of Leif and Clara (Rowe) Swennumson, was ten years old when she immigrated to the Bow Island area with her parents and her brothers, David and Robert. She returned to North Dakota for part of her schooling and graduated from high school in Medicine Hat. She completed Normal School in Calgary in 1928. Her teaching career included a position at Haig School, a one-roomed school south of Bow Island which she had attended as a child. She also taught in a one-roomed school in the Cypress Hills and then the Purple Springs School. This was where she met Redvers Baden Evans, the charming Alberta Wheat Pool grain buyer from Wales. They were married on July 3, 1933 and had two daughters, Rhondda and Clarice. During World War II, Frances was called back to her teaching profession and taught her girls at another one-roomed school, Collet, north of Purple Springs on the Old Man River. She then became the principal of Reliance School near Taber. In 1945 the family moved to Tilley where she became the town secretary. The following year they moved to their farm near Red's family at Parkland. Frances resumed her teaching career at the Parkland Consolidated School in 1954 and retired from teaching at the Stavely High School in 1967. She was much loved and respected as a teacher both in the classroom and in life but she very humbly disclaimed all the tributes and accolades of former students since she was "just doing her job". She inspired in her students and family a love of learning and a curiosity about the world. Frances believed, "Educate a daughter and you educate the following generations." Frances had many talents as well as teaching. Above all she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who loved having family gatherings and always made her home a warm and welcoming place for all. She was a farm wife, a full time career as any farm wife knows. She was a student, loved learning and as a teacher took courses at summer school and by correspondence. She was very active in the Nanton-Parkland United Church and the United Church Women, acting as a volunteer in many capacities. She was Worthy Matron of the Frantzen No. 134 Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, Nanton. Her hobbies and interests included curling in a Nanton league, crafts, pottery, woodworking and art classes, knitting, baby-sitting and travel. She and Red travelled the world and researched their roots in Norway (Frances) and Wales (Redvers). They also accompanied their families on many adventurous and exotic trips. Frances had a boundless generosity of spirit. Her honesty, ethics, kindness and quiet strength have been an inspiration to those who had the good fortune to be part of her family, to be her friend or to be in her company. She will truly be missed. "Greater gift there never could be, I had a mother who read to me." A celebration of the life of Frances Evans will be held at the Nanton-Parkland United Church, Nanton, Alberta on Saturday, May 7, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. The Reverend Rob Moore will be officiating. If desired, memorial tributes may be made in memory of Frances to the Nanton-Parkland United Church, Box 759, Nanton, AB, T0L 1R0 or to the charity of your choice. SNODGRASS FUNERAL HOMES LTD. (652-2222), Directors.