Evelyn L. Suhr – Mantorville, 91

Evelyn Lavonne Suhr, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep early Thursday morning, April 7th, at the Fairview Care Center in Dodge Center where she had resided for 16 days. She had been a resident at Prairie Meadows Senior Living Center in Kasson since August of 2012.  

Evelyn was born Christmas Eve, 1924, to Alvera M. (Peterson) and Walter C. Wyttenbach at their Milton Township family farm home in Dodge County. She was the third of their six children. Her formal education began at the nearby Milton Country School and continued at the Mantorville High School. She was the last surviving member of her 1942 graduating class. After High School, she was employed at the Rochester Bottling Company and then in Mantorville rationing scarce goods for Dodge County residents during World War II.  

She was united in marriage to Wayne H. Suhr of Mantorville on Friday, Oct. 13th, 1944, at the Wyttenbach family farm. As Wayne served his country with the U.S. Navy, she accompanied him to various Naval Bases on the East Coast. They returned to Minnesota after the war, becoming the third Suhr generation to operate Zumbro Valley Farms in Mantorville Township. Evelyn and Wayne worked side by side on the farms until moving to Mantorville in 1980.

 While working hard, they also prioritized time for family, friends and church. 

Evelyn was a very active and faithful member of the First Congregational Church in Mantorville, serving as a teacher, camp counselor, Women’s Fellowship member and host for the Berean Bible Study. She and Wayne also participated in several farm-related organizations including 4-H (serving as a leader), 6-H, and neighborhood card clubs. She was also a charter member of the Mantorville Senior Citizens and a member or the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary. Evelyn enjoyed ceramics, cooking, canning, and caring for her lawn and gardens. She took a great interest in feeding the birds, especially bluebirds and cardinals. She was an incredibly gracious and caring wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to many; Evelyn will be dearly missed.

Eveyln was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wayne on March 26, 1982, sisters Dorothy Anderson and Phyllis Helmbrecht, and brothers Warren “Bud” and Jim Wyttenbach.  She is survived by: her four children: Mike (Rollie) of Minneapolis, Jerry of Kasson, Ginny (Sam) Basseen of Oak Ridge, Tennessee., and Don (Terri) of Mantorville; her brother, Daryl (Belva)  Wyttenbach, of Magnolia, Delaware, sister-in-law Joy Suhr of North Platte, Nebraska, and brother-in-law Lloyd (Betty) Suhr of  Carmichael, California; nine grandchildren-Stacy Ann Suhr of Claymont, Delaware, Adam (Stacy) Suhr of Kiester, Minnesota, MaryBeth (Ramon) Espinoza of Kasson, Mandy (Nathan) Suhr-Sytsma of Decatur, Georgia, Alisha (Jason) Thompson of Fayetteville, Georgia, Nathan (Kristin) Basseen of Brentwood, Tennessee, Joel and Jason Suhr of rural Mantorville and Becky (Jacob) Schutz of Minneapolis ; sixteen great grandchildren; and 30 nieces and nephews. 

Evelyn’s Celebration of Life Memorial Service will take place Saturday, April 30th, at the First Congregational Church, 515 Walnut Street, Mantorville, Minnesota at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service with Pastor Brian Egelston officiating.  Inurnment will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Mantorville, Minnesota.  

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the First Congregational Church or the charity of choice in memory of Evelyn. 

Dibble Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Kasson, Minnesota is in charge of arrangements.  To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.dibblefuneralhome.com.