Age 94 of Inver Grove Heights
Van passed away peacefully on February 18th following a lovely visit with the Hospice of the Midwest Chaplain. Preceded in death by her husband (Cleo), sister (Gloria Wheeler), grandson (Mike) and special friend (Monk). Survived by her children, Karen, Bruce (Lani), Alan, and her brother Wally (Laurel); Grandchildren, Tina (Mike) Sims, Somer, Kevin, Jaeda; Mike’s widow, Karen Yu; step-grandchildren, Christopher, Sarah (Josh); and great grandchildren, Aerin, Maddy, Max, Jasiah, and Jaxon.
She was born to Walter and Anna Evenson of Thief River Falls, MN on a 4th of July picnic in 1930. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls. She had an early interest in art and perfected her skills in oil and acrylic paintings that adorned her home. She also painted a full-wall mural with a Finding Nemo theme in the Sunday school room at church. At age 14 at the county fair she saw a young sailor named Cleo Engelstad walking and told her friends that she was going to marry him someday, and at age 20, she did. He was in the Navy and she worked as a telephone switchboard operator. She was able to transfer to Corpus Christie, Texas with him until he was discharged and they transferred back to Minnesota. They had three children, Karen, Bruce and Alan.
Van was beautiful, inside and out. She had a ready smile and loved to entertain and be involved in so many things. She painted, sewed, crafted, played piano, was active in the church and sang beautifully at home as well as several weddings and funerals. She liked going to the casino and was lucky more often than not. Several years after Cleo died she was ready to get out in the world again. She had many friends and was able to go on cruises and travel to several countries. She met Luvern (Monk) Carlson at a class reunion in TRF who was an old friend of Cleo’s and they became special friends for many years.
Services will be held March 24, 2025 at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2075 70th Street, Inver Grove Heights. Visitation at 10:00 am with service at 11:00 am followed by lunch. She will be laid to rest with Cleo at Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery.