Walter Harvey Evenson

Reverend Walter (Wally) Harvey Evenson, 91, of Jefferson City, passed away on Thursday, September 7, 2017, at Heisinger Bluff's Care Center in Jefferson City surrounded by his loving family. He was born on August 7, 1926, in Wolverton, Minnesota, a son of Harvey H. and Amandia (Vartdal) Evenson. He spent his first 18 years in Wolverton graduating from high school in 1944. Walter was a member, baptized and confirmed in the Norwegian Lutheran Church. He then served 18 months in the United States Navy including eight months in the South Pacific where he served on the USS Harris and USS Dixie. Upon returning back home, Walter graduated from the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, Minn., where he met his future bride, Joyce Muriel Sigdestad of Moorhead, Minn. He then graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. in 1951. On August 29, 1952, at Moorhead, Minn., Walter was united in marriage to Joyce, who preceded him in death on May 19, 2014. While attending Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., Walter and Joyce served a one year internship at a three point parish at Lomond, Alberta, Canada. Upon graduating from the seminary in 1955, Walter and Joyce spent four years as missionaries in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), East Africa. From 1960 to his retirement from the ministry in 1987, Walter served the following two point parishes: Lake Madison and St. Peter Lutheran Church, Madison, S.D.; Springdale and Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, S.D.; Brauersville Immanuel and Pyrmont Trinity Lutheran Church, Cole Camp and Stover, Mo.; and St. Paul Lutheran Church, Palmer, Kan. Walter and Joyce then moved to Columbia, Mo. to be closer to family. Walter was a faithful and beloved member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. He was a friend to everyone, young and old alike! He was full of kindness, compassion and unconditional love for his family and others. He treasured time with his family and cherished family vacations, reunions, visits, letters, cards and phone calls! He spread Christ's message of love, joy, peace, grace, forgiveness and gift of eternal life through his mission work in Africa and his ministry back home! He had an infectious smile and laugh and keen sense of humor. Wally rarely forgot a face or a name. He treasured reading and discussing the Bible, especially the Psalms during the last year of his life. He and his late wife were prayer warriors and also sang beautiful duets together. Walter served as a Volunteer Pastor and enjoyed ministering to many veterans while at the Harry S. Truman Veteran's Hospital in Columbia, Mo. Walter wrote the following, "I am thankful to Almighty God and to our Savior, Jesus Christ for graciously giving spiritual and physical strength all along the way. Also, many thanks to each and every person: parishioners, clergy, teachers and relatives who have loved our family and me, supported us and most of all, prayed for us! Everything you have done is greatly appreciated! Thank you, and God's peace be with you!" Walter is survived by four daughters, Lynn Vallandingham and her husband Dennis of Jefferson City; Joy Evenson of Stephenville, Texas; Jan Gray and her husband Dan of Columbus, Ohio; and Julie Evenson and longtime companion Joe Aguirre of Sturgeon; three sons, Luke and Lorne Evenson of Columbia, Mo. and James Evenson and partner, Duane Carter of Wichita, Kan.; one brother, Dick Evenson and wife Mardy of Bemidji, Minn.; one sister, Alice Evenson of Minneapolis, Minn.; and 12 grandchildren, Rachel Storlie and husband David, Trent Vallandingham and wife Emily, Sarah Parker and husband Layman, Christopher Evenson and significant other Megan Grant, Nickolas Tiemeyer, Tanner Wells and significant other Hannah Dahl, and Jacob Wells, McKayla, Cassandra, Brittany and Kevin Evenson, Matthew Gray; great-grandchildren, Reid and Quinn Vallandingham, Selah and Landon Parker; and many beloved relatives and cherished friends in Christ! Walter was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Muriel; parents, Harvey and Amandia Evenson; one son, Lee Duane; one daughter, Jill Adair; one sister, Helen Kvernavig; and one brother, Robert Evenson. Visitation will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Jefferson City from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. with services immediately following on Thursday, September 14, 2017. On Friday, September 15, 2017, a visitation will be held at Pyrmont Trinity Lutheran Church near Stover from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. with a celebration of life service followed by graveside service, burial, and military honors. Officiating both days will be Pastor Scott Musselman along with Pastor Gary Wahlers assisting on Friday. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Brauersville Immanuel Lutheran Church, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Pyrmont Trinity Lutheran Church and Indian Oaks Mission. Arrangements are under the direction of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.