Hjordis Evenson

Hjordis Evenson, age 84 of Westby, died Monday, November 19, 2012. Hjordis Marie Sagmoen was born the youngest of 7 children to Christian and Ansoph Sagmoen on January 14, 1928. After receiving her first teaching assignment at Unseth Country School, she married Clement Evenson on September 16, 1951. Hjordis gave birth to the couples first daughter, Vickie in 1952. She then started working at the local restaurant Dintys, which she and her sister Adelaine ran for 7 years. During that time, she had their second child, Kathreen (Kay). While raising her family, she worked at Storbakkens Grocery and the Westby Rec Hall, as well as taking classes to update her teaching credentials. Hjordis returned to teaching at Bloomingdale. She then transferred to Chaseburg, where she spent nearly a decade instructing second and third graders. She ultimately transferred to Westby where she spent the remainder of her teaching career. After teaching nearly three generations in Vernon County, she spent her golden years being active in Our Saviors Lutheran Church, traveling the back roads with her husband and being a vital part of her extended family. Hjordis grew up and lived her entire life in Westby, Wisconsin, being a neighbor, teacher, relative and friend to almost everyone in the community. Hjordis passed away on November 19, 2012 at Gunderson Lutheran Hospital from natural causes. She is survived by her husband, Clem Evenson; her daughters, Vickie Evenson and Kay (Russell) Earles; and her granddaughter, Danielle Evenson. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Ruth Morrison and Adelaine Steckbauer; and five brothers, Morris, Lester, Ivan, and Kermit. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 23, 2012 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Westby. Pastor William Horn will officiate with burial in Our Savior's Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00. The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.