Evelyn Raasch

Funeral services for Evelyn (Mathison) Raasch will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alberta.  Reverend Rochelle Anderson will be officiating the service.  Visitation will be on Tuesday at Pedersen Funeral Home from 5-7:00 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.  Burial will be at the Frog Lake Cemetery in rural Alberta.

Evelyn “Evie” Thelma Mathison was born and raised on her family farm in Synnes Township, Stevens County, Minnesota, on October 27, 1928.  She was the third of five children, the only girl born to Thore and Emma (Erickson) Mathison.  Evelyn attended District 24 Country School through the 4th grade.  She then went on to attend Alberta Public School, graduating in 1947, with her class of 15 students. Following high school, Evie worked as a waitress at the Treischel Café, as an egg candler at Richard’s Produce and as a waitress at Cy’s Coffee Cup Café.  On June 12, 1948, Evelyn was united in marriage to Milton Raasch at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alberta.  They made their home in rural Morris where they welcomed and raised their six children.  She continued to work on the farm with Milt, raise their children, and was a wonderful mother and housewife.

Evelyn was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Alberta.  She was very active with Ladies Aid, helping with many church activities, taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and enjoyed her church family.

Evelyn liked to cook, bake, sew, craft, grow a vegetable garden, do yardwork and enjoyed flowers. She also raised chickens.

As a youth, and with her own children, Evie was involved in the 4-H program.

For over 50 years, Evie was a member of the Synnes Tuesday Homemakers Club. She enjoyed exhibiting her creations and helping at the Stevens County Fair. She also enjoyed playing in the Kitchen Klatter Klan band and learning new things with her friends.

She attended weekly TOPS meetings for years. She also was a loyal blood donor for the American Red Cross, donating many gallons for those in need.

As a child of direct decent from Norway, her heritage was of extreme importance to her. She belonged to the Sons of Norway Lodge 590 of Morris, hosted relatives from Norway, and served Lutefisk on Christmas Eve.

In earlier years, Evie and Milt would go out for dinner and dancing on Saturday nights to the VFW & Lakeside Ballroom, often with other couples.  She loved music and was always listening to it, tapping her feet, slapping her leg to the beat or whistling a happy tune.

Camping, fishing, and traveling were other interests with her family. To Evie, family was the most important.  She was always eager to spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  One of her favorite things was eating cake and ice cream with chocolate syrup and peanuts and making malts.  She cherished the time that she was able to spend with her family.

Evie went to work, cooking for the residents at West Central Homes in 1982. She was a good cook and was appreciated.

In November of 1982, Milt died unexpectedly.  She continued to live on the farm and work at West Central Homes until her retirement in 1997. She then enjoyed some traveling with friends; she visited Norway twice, London, Ireland, as well as several places in the United States.

In 2004, she moved into Morris into West Central Homes until she became a resident at West Wind Village in Morris where she lived until her death.

Evelyn died peacefully on Friday, November 5, 2021, at the West Wind Village in Morris; she had lived to 93 years old.

Evelyn is survived by her children and their children: Jeanne (Michael) Rosdahl of Clearwater along with Skeeter Ellison (daughter-in-law), Matthew (Maria) Rosdahl, and Kristi (Nick) Gruwell; David (Susan) Raasch of Shorewood along with Naomi (Rory) Synstelien and Jessica (Richard) DeLisa; Debra (Mark) Erickson of Donnelly along with Kristi (Chris) Hoodie, Daniel (Jammie) Erickson, Andrew (Tana) Erickson, and Adam (Katie) Erickson; James Raasch of St. Cloud along with Savannah Raasch; Greg (Mary) Raasch of Pequot Lakes along with Jeremy (Elizabeth) Raasch, Jason (Melissa) Raasch, Kelley (Cameron) Buchite and Rachale Sahualla  and Julie Brandt of Becker along with Erik Brandt and Kayla Brandt; 18 great-grandchildren; 8 step great-grandchildren; brother, Delroy (Elizabeth) Mathison of Detroit Lakes; and many nieces and nephews.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents, Thore & Emma Mathison; husband, Milton; grandson, Jeffrey Ellison; and four brothers: Merle, Harvey, Glen and infant.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of arrangements for Evelyn.