Evelyn Geneva Hanson Brandvold, 96, died of natural causes on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Bee Hive Homes Maple House in Great Falls.

Her funeral service is at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Great Falls on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery near Fairfield. Arrangements have been entrusted to Croxford Funeral Home.

Evelyn was born December 9, 1918, on the family farm in Hansford County, Texas, to Thomas and Julia (Walker) Hanson. Evelyn’s memories of life in Texas included the luxury of eating only the core of a watermelon because the rest was reserved for the pigs.

When she was eight years old, Evelyn moved with her family to Carpio, North Dakota. There she took piano lessons, won an award in high school for her typing prowess, and graduated from Carpio High School as salutatorian of her class. She later attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

Somewhere along the way, she met a tall, handsome gentleman named John Brandvold. John and Evelyn were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Lewistown, Montana, on May 9, 1942. The newlyweds traveled to Great Falls for their honeymoon and stayed at the Park Hotel. They didn’t have much money, but they managed to purchase a loaf of bread. John took photos of his bride feeding bread to the swans in the pond at Gibson Park.

During the fifty-nine years of their marriage, they followed the path of John’s banking career, living in Havre, Lewistown, Grafton (North Dakota), Great Falls and Choteau. A favorite family activity was spending time with their six children at the cabin they built on the banks of the Smith River.

Evelyn enjoyed learning new things. When Faith Lutheran Church in Great Falls needed an organist, Evelyn signed up for private lessons, practiced diligently, mastered the fundamentals of organ playing, and then served capably as organist from 1958-1964. Upon reaching the age at which most people retire, she expanded her knitting and crocheting skills. Evelyn’s granny-square quilts and hand-knit Christmas stockings are legendary.

Survivors include her six children: Joan Schmidt, Joyce Morgan, Larry (Linda) Brandvold, Carol (Greg) Phillips, Nancy Traner, and Karen Ann Brandvold; ten grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Alfred Brandvold; parents, Thomas and Julia Hanson; brothers, Herbert, Clarence and Arthur Hanson; and sisters, Anna Knudtson and Virginia McLean.

Memorials are suggested to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church or to the donor’s choice.

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