Lenore Evenson

Leni was called home to join her Lord on Sunday, October 12, 2003 at the age of 82. She was born April 28, 1921 in Minneapolis, daughter of the late Axel and Emily (Larson) Anderson. She attended Bird Island High School in Bird Island, Minnesota and graduated from the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis. She received her nursing training at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis, and received additional training at the University of Minnesota. Leni enlisted in the United States Navy in 1945 and served in the Navy Nurse Corps. Leni was an active member of the William Verhagen Post #60 of the American Legion in Kimberly. On February 2, 1946, just before her discharge, she married Leland Evenson in Falls Church, Virginia; he survives. Following Lee’s education and ordination as a pastor in the American Lutheran Church, the couple spent fifteen years as missionaries in South Africa, working among the Zulu tribe. While there, she did dispensary nursing from her home. Subsequently, they served parishes in: Red Oak Grove, near Austin, Minnesota where Leni worked as a charge nurse at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home; Coon Valley, Wisconsin where she was employed by the state of Wisconsin as a nursing home surveyor; and in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Following her retirement, the couple relocated to Kimberly, Wisconsin in 1996 and became members of Christ the King Lutheran Church where she enjoyed wonderful fellowship, especially in the Bible classes she attended. The couple volunteered weekly at Colony Oaks Care Center, where Leni did seamstress work for the residents.

Leni is survived by her devoted husband of fifty-seven years: Rev. Leland Evenson of Kimberly; four children: Linda (Rev. David) Werley of Mertztown, Pennsylvania and their children Matthew (Melissa) Werley and their son Elijah, and Rebecca Werley and her fiancé Duzur Palmieri; Mark (Linda) Evenson of Neenah and their children Rachelle Evenson and her fiancé Dan Gahres and Jon Evenson; Rev. Rick (Kathi) Evenson of Spokane, Washington and their children Thomas, Emily, Brendan, and Luke Evenson; Rolf Evenson of Klickitat, Washington; a brother-in-law: Ray Christensen of Hector, Minnesota. Leni is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and by sisters Eunice Anderson and Helen Jean Christensen.

Funeral Services will be held at 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 16, 2003 at CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN CHURCH, 601 S. Washington Street in Combined Locks with Rev. Steven Nelson and Rev. Bill Schroeder officiating. Interment will be in Highland Memorial Park. Friends may call AT THE CHURCH on Thursday from 4:00 PM until the hour of the service.

Leni had a favorite scripture verse from which she received peace and assurance of salvation: “But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He the right to become children of God, even to those who believed on His name.” РJohn 1:12