The gift of life here on this earth was given to Evelyn Harriet Raaf on December 21, 1919 at Bellingham, MN as the child of Fred and Alma (Krogstad) Raaf. She was baptized into the Christian faith on February 06, 1920 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Town Walter, Bellingham, MN. Evelyn confessed her Christian faith in the rite of Confirmation on April 15, 1934 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Town Walter, Bellingham, MN.
Evelyn grew up on a farm in rural Bellingham with one brother, Virgil Raaf. Evelyn attended country school in Bellingham and graduated from Bellingham High School.
On February 20, 1942, Evelyn was united in marriage to Walter C. Zahnow, by Reverend Sporleder in Walter Township, Bellingham, MN. While enlisted in the army, Walt and Evelyn spent time living in Arkansas. In 1946 they moved to Big Stone City, SD. In 1948 Evelyn and Walt were blessed with a daughter, Juanita, and in 1953 a son, Robert. In 1956 Evelyn and Walt built a home in Big Stone City, SD where she lived until September of this year. Evelyn was a housewife, working part time house cleaning and at Red Owl, Coast to Coast, and Lou?s Greenhouse.
Evelyn was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN, the Women of Trinity and the Big Stone Senior Citizens group. Evelyn enjoyed gardening, canning tomatoes, growing flowers and embroidering dish towels. She enjoyed helping others and always had a listening ear.
Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Juanita (Bob) Carlson; her son Robert (Betty) Zahnow; brother Virgil (Verene) Raaf; granddaughters Laura (Mike) Knodel, Jennifer (Arvin) Mueller, and Megan Zahnow; great grandchildren Alyssa Knodel, Kylie Knodel, and Joshua Mueller; other relatives and friends.
Preceding Evelyn in death were her parents and husband, Walter.
Evelyn was called into eternity on October 27, 2004 while a resident of Northridge Residence in Ortonville, MN, after having been privileged to live here on earth for 84 years, 10 months, and 6 days.