Evelyn D. Lewis

EVELYN DOROTHY (GILFOY) LEWIS, age 90, died peacefully on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at her home in the Oak Meadows Senior Retirement Center in Oakdale, Minnesota. Her parents James and Dora Gilfoy, her loving husband of 55 years James and two sons Daniel and Patrick, and her only sibling Catherine Willems, preceded her in death. She is survived by her children, James (Bill Bloedow), St. Paul, Minnesota; Connie (Ken Peterson), St. Paul, Minnesota; and Rita of Arlington, Virginia; grandchildren, Kelsey Peterson of Chicago, Illinois, Nicholas Peterson of St. Paul, Minnesota and Maria of Arlington, Virginia.

Except for her early childhood in Bismarck and Minot, North Dakota and the past five years in Oakdale, Minnesota, Evelyn lived in southwestern Minnesota for 62 years on the family farm in Springwater Township in Rock County and six years in Luverne, Minnesota. She was a rural school teacher for five year before taking on the role of full-time mother and homemaker.

Evelyn was a woman of many passions. She was a devoted volunteer for the Minnesota 4-H Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and the Luverne Hospital to name a few. She was active in her community serving as the Clerk of the Springwater Township Board for several years and many years as the Associate Chair of the DFL Party in Rock County. Evelyn was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Minnesota. For more than 50 years she was a part of the neighborhood birthday club and a member of the Enterprize Extension group. Evelyn was an avid card player and loved being part of several card groups. She was also an avid fan of garage sales. Above all, her family was most important in her life. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

A special thank you to the staff at Oak Meadows Senior Living and Health East Hospice for their loving and compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Sanford Luverne Hospice or donor’s choice.