Funeral Services for Evelyn Mildred Zacharias, 90 of Browns Valley, Minnesota will be held on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at Zion Lutheran Church, Browns Valley, MN with Rev. Paul Warnier officiating. Pallbearers will be Christopher and Erik Tasa, Matt and Aaron Zacharias, Gordon DeSpiegler, and Don Johnson. Honorary Pallbearers will be all the Staff and Residents of the Browns Valley Health Care Center, Residents of the Valley Vista Apartments and Home Health Care Staff. Organist will be Ginny Westbrock and soloist will be Larry Smith. Interment will be in the Midway Cemetery, Beardsley, Minnesota. There will be visitation on Thursday, October 8, 2009 from 2:00 to 7:00 PM with Family present from 5:00 to 7:00PM at Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD. There will be visitation one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. The Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.
Evelyn Mildred Johnson was born on March 6, 1919 at the home of her grandparents in Easter Township, Roberts County, South Dakota to Vernon and Alma (Knutson) Johnson. She was the eldest of five children. She attended Country School through the eighth grade; attended high school in Peever, SD and graduated from Browns Valley High School in 1937. Evelyn married Ernie Zacharias in Webster, SD on October 26, 1938. They farmed in Easter and Grant Township. Evelyn was a hard working farm wife, cooking for threshers, raising and butchering chickens for selling, growing a large garden, helping with the farm chores and caring for their three children. Later she worked at Dacotah Quilting, Browns Valley Library, Ike's Chicken Shack, did babysitting and restaurant work. Evelyn and Ernie moved into Browns Valley in 1984. Ernie passed away on May 16, 1989. Following Ernie's death Evelyn moved into the Valley Vista Apartments where she resided for twenty years. She entered the Browns Valley Health Care Center in August 2009. Evelyn was a long time member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Browns Valley, MN and a member of the William-Kensing American Legion Auxiliary #58. Evelyn passed away at the Coteau Des Prairies Hospital, Sisseton, SD on October 5, 2009.
Evelyn is survived by two daughters, Vonnie Sandman of Browns Valley, MN and Linda (Doug) Tasa of Coon Rapids, MN; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Zacharias of Nicollet, MN; four grandson, Erik (Alesia) Tasa, Matt (Aimee) Zacharias, Christopher (Laura) Tasa and Aaron Zacharias; three great grandsons, Jesse, Luke, and Alex; two sisters-in-law, Mildred Johnson of Browns Valley, MN and Marion Johnson, of Napa, CA; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie; two sons, James and Wayne; one son-in-law, Ralph M. Sandman; a sister and brother-in-law, Mavis and Bob Schuler; three brothers, Merlyn Johnson, Richard Johnson, and Larry Johnson and her parents.