Harvey Evenson

Harvey Franklin Evenson, 85, of Hillsboro, ND, passed into eternity May 22, 2018 at the Hillsboro Care Center surrounded by his loving wife and family. Harvey was born November 5, 1932 on the family farm in Brandon, MN to John and Bertha Evenson. When still a baby, his family moved to a farm outside Fosston, MN where he spent his childhood and school years. He graduated from Fosston High School in 1950. In 1951, Harvey took a job at the Thureen family farm in East Grand Forks, MN where he met and eventually married Elaine, the farmer’s daughter. Harvey joined the army during the Korean conflict in 1953, completed basic training in Colorado, and was assigned to a logistics supply team delivering supplies via mule train to a cold weather training camp on a glacier in the Wyoming mountains. He later was stationed overseas in southern France. Harvey and Elaine were married September 29, 1956 and began their life together in Moorhead, MN where he worked at Armour & Co. and attended business school. Harvey and Elaine lived, worked, and raised their family in Fargo, West Fargo, Bismarck and Hillsboro. He had a love and knowledge of cars. His varied career path always involved cars including many years at Hillsboro Auto. His most recent and favorite “job” was working for the Hillsboro park board maintaining the local skating rink where he laced up many skates and built relationships with a generation of Hillsboro youth. Harvey loved his family, loved people and had a gift for making everyone feel valued. He had an endearing sense of mischief and humor. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years Elaine, son Mark (Brenda) Evenson, MN, daughter Debbie (Randy) Johnson, NM, son Michael (Tania) Hyatt-Evenson, OR; 7 adored grandchildren (Ryan, Josh, Alyssa, Tim, Matthew, Luke, Izzy) and 7 equally adored great-grandchildren (Josephine, Georgia, Bjorn, Noah, Ethan, Micah, Everette and one on the way); sisters Arlene Noll, MN and Bonnie Swanson, MN and many extended family members and friends. Harvey is preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, 2 sons, John Thao and Erik Lee and one grandson Erick Michael. He was loved by all and will be greatly missed. The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the friends and staff at the Hillsboro Care Center who made Harvey’s last years joyful and full. Thank you also to Red River Valley Hospice staff who made his last days peaceful and pain free.