Evelyn Frances Margaret Rodwold Herries
RONAN — Evelyn Frances Margaret Rodwold Herries, a big name for a little lady, danced her way into heaven and the waiting arms of her God and her husband John on Oct. 4, 2005, just four days after her 97th birthday. She and John spent the last two weeks side by side in St. Luke Hospital in Ronan, following surgery for breaking their hips on the same weekend. Togetherness was the hallmark of their 75 year marriage.
Ev was born in 1908 in Minneapolis, oldest child to Ole and Matilda (Olsen) Rodwold, Norwegian immigrants. She spoke fluent Norwegian and enjoyed translating letters and other documents for friends and family. Upon completion of business college Ev worked for the main accounting office of Sears, Roebuck & Co. before moving to Montana as a young bride.
Always the most meticulous of homemakers, Ev was famous for her baking, producing luscious lemon meringue pies, pecan rolls, and hundreds of Norwegian cookies to be given away every Christmas. All who visited her home were welcomed and lovingly fussed over, in much the same way she fussed over her beautiful yard. Many of her roses and lilacs were transplanted from Big Timber to Charlo. A member of Big Timber Lutheran Church, the sewing circle and garden club, Ev was also a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star. She cheerfully played the piano for Sunday school and Eastern Star, and any other happy occasion. Having a sweet, clear voice, she loved to sing, and even in the last few days could harmonize along to any favorite old hymn or tune.
No one was a better Mother or Gramma. Ev would run through the sprinkler, ride bikes, tell spooky stories, share her secret hidden stashes of candy, and spend countless hours with the grand and great-grandchildren, amused by anything they had to say or do. Like her husband, Evelyn was a quick wit who laughed heartily, and took every opportunity to share her joyful easy-going nature with others. Guileless and without prejudice, she lived the Christian principle of "judge not that you be not judged," and loved her neighbor more than she loved herself.
Ev was preceded in death by her parents, brother Bob Rodwold and sister Frances Layton.
Those left to carry on her legacy of love are her cherished son David and daughter-in-law Tish; granddaughter Stacey and husband Matthew Herman, and grandson John Scot and wife Deborah Lissfelt. The great-grandchildren, Sonia, Elias and Clara will greatly miss dancing and singing for Gramma Ev and Grampa John. Her life-long friend Suzie Hanson was at her side when she passed on.
The family wishes to thank Diana and Echo of Lake County Home Health Care for their daily dedicated and loving care these last four years, as well as the remarkable kindness shown by all the staff at St. Luke's.
Memorials for Evelyn and John may be made to a charity of the donor's choice or to the building fund for Mission Valley United Methodist Church, Box 297, St. Ignatius, MT, 59865.
A celebration of the lives of John and Evelyn will be held next June in Big Timber.