Evelyn M. Sullivan, 98

Evelyn M. Sullivan, 98, our beloved mother, went to the Lord Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at Heritage Place in Kalispell. She was born to Albert and Olphina (Nelson) Runsvold on Dec. 17, 1910, in Hettinger, N.D. At age 3, she moved with her family to Kalispell. They lived on Ashley Creek where they would swim in the summer and ice skate in the winter. After graduating from Flathead County High School in 1928, she worked at the soldiers home in Columbia Falls as a cook. There she met and married Daniel W. Sullivan. They settled on a small farm on Middle Road and raised three children. Throughout the years she became an honorary grandmother to many children whom she took care of so the parents could work. They retired from the farm in 1989 and moved to Kalispell, and remained married for 66 years until her husband s passing in 1999. Evelyn was active with many clubs and organizations in her life, including the Royal Neighbors, Altar Society, Home Demonstrations, Busy Bees, and a 4-H leader. She was a member of the St. Richard s Parish and was active in the parish Women s Guild. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, knitting and reading. She had also taken up oil painting and created many paintings that adorn our family s homes. Being of Norwegian heritage, she enjoyed standard Norwegian food. Some of her cooking creations have been passed down, becoming family gathering staples. Everyone that she met became her friend and she continued friendships with the children of her childhood friends. Always helping others through life s sorrows, it fits her character that she is the last of her siblings to pass. Even towards the end of her life she still had a mother s concern for her children whom she placed before her own worries. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel W. Sullivan; parents, Albert and Olphina Runsvold; five siblings, Clara Howell, Alma Parkinson, Henry, Norman and Donald Runsvold; son-in-law, John E. Wright; daughter-in-law, Beverly Sullivan; and grandson, Daniel Wright. Evelyn is survived by her three children, Rosalie Wright of Kalispell, Channing Sullivan of Whitefish, and Joann Sullivan of Missoula; three grandchildren, Kathy and husband Joe Rehbein of Bozeman, Connie and husband John Lehman of Missoula, and Lonnie and wife Kelly Wright of Kalispell; 10 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one niece, Delores Young; one nephew, Albert Runsvold; and two cousins-in law, Phyllis Howe and Georgette Sullivan. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, at St. Richard s Catholic Church in Columbia Falls, with Father John Miller officiating. Burial will follow services in the St. Richard s Catholic Cemetery. A rosary service will be said at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel in Kalispell. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Evelyn s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Evelyn s guest book.