Evelyn Catherine Boysen Carlsen

(June 17, 1926 -  March 8, 2012)

Evelyn Catherine (Boysen) Carlsen passed away at home Thursday, March 8, 2012, in the company of her family. She was 85.

She was born June 17, 1926 in Libertyville, Ill., to Eda Mathilda (Schreck) and Henry Hans Boysen.

On Jan. 10, 1948, she married Robert Theodore Carlsen in Libertyville, Ill. They made their home in Mundelein, Ill. Evelyn and Bob were married for 53 years before his death in 2001.

Evelyn worked for her father in the office of Boysen Well Drilling Co. She was a homemaker when raising her five young daughters. She was later a farmwife and worked at Libertyville Credit Union. For many years, before moving to Wyoming, Evelyn and Bob worked together at Quig’s Apple Orchard. Evelyn worked in the kitchen baking cider donuts and pies, while Bob did odd jobs around the orchard. Their employers were also good friends of theirs.

She was a life-long volunteer serving in many organizations. In her early years she was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, co-leader of the Country Clovers 4-H Club, and school home room helper. She was a 20-year member of both Ivanhoe Congregational Church in Ivanhoe, Ill., and First United Methodist Church in Powell and their choirs, a 50-year member of the Illinois Homemaker’s Extension, a 20-year member of the First United Methodist Women’s Organization in Powell, serving in several leadership positions throughout the years in both organizations. In Powell she volunteered her time at her church’s resale shop and Powell Valley Healthcare Gift Shop. In addition to singing in her church choir she also belonged to the Glory Singers who sang at gatherings around town.

Evelyn enjoyed reading, traditional rug hooking, and sewing. She joined a book club and enjoyed meeting for lunch on Mondays to discuss and share books that members were reading. She joined a rug hooking club and traveled to California, North Dakota, and Canada to take lessons in the art of traditional rug hooking. She sewed doll clothes, everyday clothes for her daughters, prom dresses, her older daughter’s bridesmaids dresses, and she sewed formals for their dancing recitals. Evelyn enjoyed cooking and baking new recipes she found in newspapers or magazines along with family favorites. She kept her “friendship starter” bread going for many years, baking several loaves of bread every week for her husband until he passed away. Evelyn enjoyed playing cards and games. The Hand and Foot card game and Farkle dice game were her favorites.

Evelyn and Bob enjoyed ball room dancing and won trophies in this endeavor. They also enjoyed square dancing which they shared with their daughters. They loved to travel. Evelyn and Bob took a vacation every year. In their early years it was fishing in Wisconsin with friends. When the kids came along it was fishing trips to Canada. Later on it was to Wyoming and other parts of the West stopping at every historical marker and visitor’s center on the way. In their later years, they enjoyed traveling the United States together for weeks at a time visiting family and friends.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Robert T. Carlsen; her parents Eda and Henry Boysen, her brother Ernest Boysen, and sister Lucille Boysen Meyers.

She is survived by her sisters Ruth Boysen White and Eleanor Boysen Smith; and brother Richard Boysen; her five daughters, Cathy (Tom) Meyer of Woodstock, Ill., Carol Carlsen of Grayslake, Ill., Sara (Duane) Miller of Powell, Tina (Glenn) Cederquist of Antioch, Ill., and Robbie (Bruce) Nemeth of Wayne, Ill.; her wonderful grandchildren Kara (Bert) Miller Beech, Lisa (Nathan) Miller Rieb, Amanda (Josef) Meyer Hall, Michelle (Steve) Miller Clark, David (Sarah) Meyer, Laura (Nate) Cederquist Davis, James Cederquist, Robert and Benjamin Nemeth; her nine adoring great-grandchildren.

At her request, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 9 at the First United Methodist Church. Memorial donations may be sent to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 778, Powell, WY 82435 and Powell Valley Hospice, 777 Avenue H, Powell, WY 82435.

Thompson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.thompsonfuneral.net or to P.O. Box 807 Powell, WY 82435.