John B. ’Jack’ Evenson

John "Jack" Evenson, 82, died Sunday, April 10, 2011 at The Evergreens in Moorhead, MN, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.John B. Evenson was born on April 21, 1928, in Fargo, ND, to Edwin and Helen Newman Evenson. He grew up and attended school in Fargo, graduating from Central High School. Following High School, he worked for a time at the Fargo Forum and then at Northwestern Bell Telephone, where he was a lineman and installer for 32 years, from 1949 until retiring in 1981. Jack married Patricia Jean Wallace on September 8, 1950 in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Moorhead. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea from December of 1950 until September of 1952 and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was the father of thirteen children, including three sets of twins. Jack was a loving husband, father, and grandfather with a strong commitment to his family. Jack enjoyed cooking. He became well known for his spaghetti and his meat loaf, not mention his home-made bread, pies, and cookies. After retiring from the telephone company, Jack began his second career building replica furniture of the primitive era and repairing antiques for his wife's shop, The Summer House Antiques. He was a "jack of all trades", craftsman, cook and gardener. His work was first class and everything he did; he did with passion, skill and great care. He lost his best friend, Jean, his wife of sixty years, who passed away October 3, 2010.Jack is survived by six sons, George Evenson, Missouri, Jon Evenson, Fargo, Paul Paulette Evenson, Pelican Rapids, MN, Joel Carol Evenson, Eagan, MN, Peter Jodi Evenson, Moorhead, and Michael Evenson, Moorhead; seven daughters, Melanie Engel, Orlando, FL, Carrie Arturo Torres, Lubbock, TX, Rita Craig Potts, Owensboro, KY, Roberta Evenson, Sunnyvale, CA, Lia Herbie Helgeson, Sisseton, SD, Ann Evenson, Fridley, MN, Laura Randy Dale, Albany Oregon; fourteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and two brothers, William and Bob.