Evelyn L Harrison

Evelyn L. Harrison, 89 of Hinton, Iowa, died Friday, April 15th, 2011, at a Sioux City hospital, after several weeks of illness.

Services will be 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 18, 2011 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City with Rev. Neva Thorn Perdue officiating. A private family burial will be held the following day at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 5 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.meyerbroschapels.com

Evelyn Louise Anderson was born July 25th 1921, at the Ingleside Maternity Hall, in Sioux City, Iowa. Evelyn was the only child born to Enoch Manuel and Hulda Irene (Ericson) Anderson. Her parents consulted successfully with fertility specialists to conceive her. Her childhood home was located at 2015 South Cedar, in Morningside. Evelyn suffered many health crisises as a child, spending over a month at the hospital at age 5. Evelyn's mother died when she was 8 years old. Her father hired a full time nanny, Mary Lindeman, who Evelyn affectionately referred to as "Hon Bon," and she continued to raise her through her high school years. As a child Evelyn attended the Morningside Music Conservatory and was trained in piano and violin. She was 100% Swedish. Her family attended Central Baptist Church (her paternal grandparents were charter members). She attended Whittier Grade School, and graduated from East High School with honors in 1939, and attended Morningside College, where she studied education until marrying. Here she met her future husband.

Evelyn married Dean Oliver Harrison on January 11th, 1941, Dakota City, Nebraska. They moved to his hometown, Hinton, Iowa, where she has resided since. Dean was a World War II veteran. At one point, Evelyn traveled to Moses Lake, Washington, where he was stationed and she worked on the base as a work force was so desperately needed. Dean was next stationed in Hawaii, and she returned to Hinton, where she then worked for her husband's paternal grandmother, Mrs. Florence Harrison as a relief switchboard operator for Hinton Telephone Exchange and her husband's maternal grandmother, Mrs. Estella Winter's General Store as a clerk.

Evelyn was a very devoted wife and mother, and active in the Hinton community. She had a very special relationship with her parent-in-laws, Ollie and Georgene Harrison. Both of Evelyn's parents had died when she was young, and they were so nurturing and adoring to her. She was active in the Hinton PTA, Hinton United Methodist Church, Hinton Legion Auxiliary, a 70 year member. She very much loved Hinton and the people in the community.

Evelyn worked as a bookkeeper at various Sioux City businesses, Jolly Time Popcorn; Cornbelt; Burke Engineering; Chestermans; Bekins; and Fimco. Evelyn loved to work, she never "retired," she continued to work part time as a bookkeeper until she was 76, and then began doing grocery and department store demonstrations of new products until she was 87. As well as working on the voting / polling election board until age 88. Even in retirement, she kept a very active and on "schedule."

Evelyn known as "Gramie" to her grandchildren and "Me-Ma" to her great granddaughter, will be lovingly remembered for her fun personality. She was always so young at heart and embraced change. She taught her family, even though life hands you trials and tribulations, to hold your head up high...do the best you can, don't judge others and have faith. She had a love for animals, especially cats, her "Panda" and "Baby," and always a few strays fed on her door step.

Evelyn is survived by her son, Randy Harrison, Hinton, Iowa, and her daughter, Candi Herbst and her husband, Leon, of Merrill, Iowa; grandchildren; Rich Harrison, Sioux City, Dawn Harrison and partner, Rob Sorgdrager, of Le Mars, Justin Herbst, of Merrill, and Noel Henrich and her husband, Tod, of Le Mars, and one great granddaughter, Courtney Sorgdrager, of LeMars, Iowa. Her sister-in-law, Edith Harrison Granstedt, of San Diego, California and brother-in-law, Miles Patton II, Sioux City, Iowa, and nieces, Nicki Pyles, Greta Granstedt, Patti Hesse, and nephews, Miles Patton III and Brad Patton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean, on December 26, 1991, her parents, Hulda and Enoch, her parent-in-laws, Ollie and Georgene (Winter) Harrison, a sister-in-law, Gayle Patton, and a brother-in-law, Larry Granstedt, and a nephew, Rory Granstedt.