DOROTHY EVERSON

DOROTHY EVERSON Dorothy Everson, 87, Binford, ND formerly of Walum, ND, died Tuesday, May 30, 2017 in the Cooperstown Medical Center, Cooperstown, ND. Dorothy was born January 2, 1930 at her grandparent’s farm North of Sutton, ND to William and Alice (Leininger) Rahlf. Dorothy was baptized at her grandparent’s farm North of Sutton, ND on January 12, 1930. She was confirmed at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church at Binford, ND on June 27, 1943. Dorothy (Dot) spent her early childhood on a farm near Sutton and attended school at a rural County schoolhouse. When she was 13, her family moved to the farm South of Binford, however, Dorothy chose to complete her schooling with friends and cousins at the school near Sutton. Family and working hard were always priorities in Dorothy’s life. She was the second oldest of 12 children on an ever growing farmstead. She worked hard on and off the farm as a teenager. There were many chores, younger siblings to care for, along with cooking and cleaning. In the late 1940s, Dorothy was working at Stone’s Cafe in Cooperstown, ND when she met a handsome young horse racer named Robert Everson. Dorothy and Bob were married at the Zion Lutheran Church, rural Binford in early 1950, which began her greatest legacy; her family. Bob worked construction or as a mechanic while Dorothy tried her hand at hotel management, waitressing, cooking and cleaning, or helping run the service station, while also tending to their children. They eventually settled in Walum, ND, where Dorothy would spend most of the remainder of her life. She always had a large garden, raised chickens and other fowl, milked the cows, tended to the hogs and lambs, ponies or other strays her family would muster. Along the way she thought it important to instill morals and values into her children. In her free time, she would gather eggs, butcher chickens or can vegetables from her garden. At 41 years old, Dorothy became a single mother raising seven children after Bob passed away. She returned into the workforce, cooking and cleaning at the local cafe/hotel, where she was employed for the next 16 years, until her retirement. Throughout her life, Dorothy enjoyed spending time with people. She enjoyed playing cards or games with family and friends, attending auction sales, hosting Tupperware, Home Interior, or Artex painting parties. She quilted with the Ladies Aide at St. Olaf Church. She loved to cook and often the smell of fresh baked bread or buns would permeate her home. She proved she could cook for a crowd as one often gathered at her house for birthdays or holidays or Sunday dinner. She always loved family gatherings, even when she was saying “don’t run in the house”, or “you kids go outside and play”, the love was there. She enjoyed bridal and baby showers and she enjoyed just sitting with her brothers and sisters and sharing stories of their childhood. Dorothy opened her home and her heart to many people along the way. She became Mom, Grandma Dorothy or Mama Dorothy to several children within her community. She carefully kept track of all the birthdays and anniversaries of people who were near and dear to her. Later in life, Dorothy returned to the home farmstead near Binford to help care for her mother and father and her four youngest brothers who were still busy farming. There, she would remain until going home to the Lord on May 30, 2017. Dorothy Thelma Everson is survived by her children; Edwin (Cindy) Everson, Hannaford, ND, Cindy (Dale) Kunze, Dazey, ND, Bob (Nancy) Everson, Courtenay, ND, Vickie (Joel) Omdahl, Rogers, ND, Ron (Tracy Jacobson) Everson, Hannaford, ND, Becky Soma, Hatton, ND, and Dan (Sheila Kinzler) Everson, Jamestown, ND; 29 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. She is also survived by three sisters; Kay Bear, Glenfield, ND, Patricia (Reynold) Rickford, Jessie, ND, and Alice (Chuck) DeHoff, Binford, ND; six brothers; William (Nikki) Rahlf, Sutton, ND, James Rahlf, Cooperstown, ND, Ronald (Karen) Rahlf, Binford, ND, Jerald, Daniel and Timothy, Binford, ND; along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by her beloved dog “Foxy”. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Alice (Leininger) Rahlf; husband Robert Everson; brother David Rahlf; sister Marilyn Roth; grandsons Shawn Everson and Tim Everson; granddaughters Alison Haaland and Aaliyah Fountain; daughter-in-law Denise Everson; son-in-law David Jorissen; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law and nephews, nieces and cousins. Visitation will be Sunday, June 4, 2017 from 5:00 till 7:00 with a Prayer Service at 7:00 pm in the Hannaford Community Center, Hannaford, ND visitation will continue Monday, June 5, 2017 from 1-2 pm, followed by a Funeral Service at 2:00 pm in the Center. Interment will be in the St. Olaf Cemetery at 3:45, Walum, ND.