Randine Grace Evenson

Randine Evenson, 84 of West Union, Iowa passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at Gunderson Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union, Iowa. Randine was born April 14, 1941 to Bernard and Alma (Opsand) Hanson in Waukon, Iowa. She graduated from Valley Community High School with the class of 1959. Randine did egg candling and worked at the canning factory in Elgin, Iowa. She then trained as a nurse's aide in Cedar Rapids and worked at Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union, Iowa before she was married.
On July 20, 1968, Randine was united in marriage with Harley Evenson. Two daughters were born to this union. Together they farmed their century farm northeast of West Union on the Great River Road, raising hogs and beef cattle. As a farm wife, Randine enjoyed being in the field, working outside with Harley, taking care of the yard and flowers, and being a true partner. She especially looked forward to driving the hogs to town when it was time to sell. She would joke that she had her PhD–Pig Hauling Degree. The dog was always her pal and would often follow her in her work. Randine was a member of Stavanger Lutheran Church, Ladies Aide and Circle, and the neighborhood craft club. She sang music for church and in the Messiah and played piano for Sunday School.
Her life would change abruptly following a lithium toxicity in 1990 while traveling in Europe to visit Kathy and Kristie and their exchange daughters' families. Waking up from a three week coma, she suffered neurological damage that affected her motor skills and speech. She learned to do many tasks again, but never regained the use of her legs to walk. Her physical strength is testament to how much she was able to overcome. Her primary caregiver was Harley and when he passed in 1997, she came to live with Dee and Harold Johnson and then would move to Prairie View and eventually to Good Sam. She continued to enjoy music, baking, visiting with family and friends, and any activity that could let her enjoy the outdoors.
In 2004 and 2006 she received new joys of baby grandsons that became her focus. To say Randine was a proud grandmother would be an understatement. She adored the time she would have with them and they grew up visiting her by car and plane and used technology to bridge the distance. Each enjoyed explaining their latest ideas or plans to Grandma, and she proudly displayed their latest photos and projects for all to see.
Surviving Randine are her daughters, Kathy (Mark) Evenson-McDermott of St. Paul, Minnesota and Kristie (Peter Doric) Evenson of Split, Croatia; two grandchildren, Aeden Evenson-McDermott of St. Paul, Minnesota and Marin Doric-Evenson of Split, Croatia; siblings, Harold (LeAnna) Hanson of Elgin, Iowa, Margaret Suhr of Decorah, Iowa, Inga Hanson of West Union, Iowa, Elsie (Kevin) Walsh of Johnston, Iowa, Enoch (Gina) Hanson of Elgin, Iowa, Albert (Trudy) Hanson of Elgin, Iowa and Cora (Gary) Elrod of Kirksville, Missouri.
Preceding Randine in death are her husband, Harley Evenson; parents, Bernard and Alma Hanson; siblings, Paul Hanson and Sylvia Feigenspan; sister-in-law, Judy Hanson and brother-in-law, Dale Suhr.
A Visitation will be held from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at Stavanger Lutheran Church, rural Ossian, Iowa.
Funeral Service will be at 3:00 pm on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at Stavanger Lutheran Church, rural Ossian with Rev. Daryl Schultz as the officiant.
Inurnment will follow at Stavanger Lutheran Cemetery, rural Ossian, Iowa.
Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of West Union, Iowa is assisting the family with services