Evelyn Clarice Birchem

Evelyn Clarice Birchem, 89, a resident of Fergus Falls died Sunday, October 19, 2014 at PioneerCare.

She was born on July 3, 1925 to Clarence and Anne (Goodhart) Reddy in Barry. She was the youngest of four daughters.

On August 26, 1941, she married Henry Peter Birchem, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Rosholt, SD. They were happily married for 52 years before his death on November 19, 1983. They moved to their farm 5 miles north of Rosholt, SD to raise their 10 children.

Evelyn enjoyed being a farmer’s wife, but most of all, she loved being a mother. She was a mother to many, friends of her children, nephews and farm help. Everyone was always welcome and treated like family. She was a great cook and made sure no one went away hungry. Her specialties were her potato salad and fried chicken. They went south custom combining every year for 14 years with their family.

In 1966 they sold their farm to their oldest son, Dennis and his wife, Connie. They moved to Moorhead for a short time. In 1967, they made their home in New Brighton. They both worked for the Federal Cartridge Factory for ten years.

In 1977, they built their hobby farm in Elk River and lived there for 25 years. Evelyn continued to live there after the death of Henry. In 1999, she moved to Fergus Falls where she would be close to her daughter, Sharon (Ray) Braun.

Evelyn loved playing the piano and guitar. Her favorite songs were “You Are My Sunshine” and “Roll Out The Barrel”. One of her favorite hobbies was to shop! She will always be remembered as “A Sharp Dressed, Elegant “Little Lady” with a “Big Smile.”

Evelyn was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. She will always be remembered as a loving person who sincerely loved her family, friends and the people who cared for her during her stay at PioneerCare.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her beloved husband, Henry; daughters, Marie at infancy, Evelyn “Terry” Koontz; sons, Joseph “Joey” and Dennis; sister, Mary Cook; son-in-law, Jerome (Duke) Marsh; daughter-in-law, Connie Birchem.

She is survived by her children, Marlene Marsh of Moorhead, Allen (Joyce) Birchem of Anoka, Sharon (Ray) Braun of Fergus Falls, Connie (Lee) Crawley of South Haven, Henry “Bucky” Jr. (Karen) Birchem of Bonita Springs, FL, Debbie Birchem of Eagan; son-in-law, John Koontz of Rogers, AR; sisters, Ann Hendricks of Graceville, Lucille Hendricks of Bemidji. She leaves behind 20 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 8 great–great grandchildren.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, October 23, 2014 with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a.m. Friday, October 24, 2014 at Our Lady of Victory Church
Clergy: Father Alan Wielinski and Deacon Chuck Kampa
Burial: St. Andrews Catholic Cemetery, Elk River, MN
Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, MN.