C. Evelyn Toso

C. Evelyn Toso, 96, a resident of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, died Monday, December 22, 2014 at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Evelyn and her twin sister, Helen, were born March 9, 1918 to Carl and Hannah (Baglien) Lerbakken at their home in Oscar Township in rural Rothsay. She was baptized at home and attended Hedemarken Lutheran Church where she went to Sunday School and was confirmed on October 25, 1931 in Norwegian. Evelyn attended country school in District 127 through 8th grade, where she walked 3 miles across fields and over barbwire fences while carrying her tin lunch pail.

In 1938 she met Marvin James Toso and later married on October 1, 1940 at Hamar Lutheran Parsonage in Rothsay. After they were married, they worked for several farmers in the Rothsay area where Marvin worked with cattle and in the fields and Evelyn cleaned houses and helped with the laundry. Later they moved to Carlisle where their first child, Marlene, was born in 1943. They continued farming in the Rothsay area where their second child, Diane, was born in 1950. In 1955 they sold the farm and moved to Fergus Falls where Marvin worked at Mid American Dairy until his retirement. During this time, Evelyn did babysitting in her home for neighbor children until she started working at Lake Region Hospital in the dietary department, where she was known as “The Salad Lady” for 27 years.

In 1969 they bought a small farm north of Fergus Falls where they raised a few cattle and enjoyed their retirement and grandchildren, as farming was the love of their lives. In 1999 they moved back into Fergus Falls where they continued their 63 years of marriage. Shortly after Marvin’s death in 2003, Evelyn moved to Park Gardens until 2011 when she entered PioneerCare where she remained until her death.

Evelyn was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She enjoyed visiting with friends, neighbors and relatives and also enjoyed taking trips, sewing, gardening, baking and having coffee at area cafes. But most of all, she loved spending time with her family and her grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Carl and Hannah Lerbakken; husband, Marvin Toso; daughter, Diane Merz; brothers, baby Norris, Norris, Herbert and Harold Lerbakken; sisters, Myrtle, twin sister, Helen Lerbakken, Calma Jacobson, Alice Olson and Clarice Nord.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Marlene (Vance) Johnson of Foxhome; son-in-law, Eldor Merz of Fergus Falls; grandchildren, Brett (Rachel) Johnson of Foxhome, Melissa (John) Langston of Fargo, ND, Corey Merz of Fergus Falls, Tyler (Janice) Merz of Fergus Falls, Brady Merz of Fergus Falls; great-grandchildren, Alex, Austin, Andrew, Makenna, Jaden, Jase, Zach, Madisin, Jazmyn, Kaelyn, Mackenzie, James, John and Anna; brother-in-law, John (Tamie) Toso of Owatonna; sisters-in-law, Helen (Clayton) Toso of Alexandria, Evelyn (Leo) Hennen of Morris. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, including Nita Neulieb and Eileen Smiley.

Memorials are preferred to Lake Region Cancer Center or Bethlehem Lutheran Church stained glass window project.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Friday, December 26, 2014 with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, December 27, 2014 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.
Clergy: Pastor Kate Bruns
Burial: Bethlehem Cemetery, Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls