Evelyn DeGree

Evelyn Jean DeGree, 87,

of Minot formerly of Fox-

holm, ND, joined the love

of her life in heaven

Wednesday, August 11,

2022, at Trinity Hospital

in Minot, ND.

Evelyn was born on

April 24, 1935, to Henry

and Mary (Hauser)

Schmitz of Foxholm. She

attended schools in Fox-

holm, Minot and Carpio

and then continued her

education at Minot State

University where she ob-

tained her teaching cer-

tification. She shared her

knowledge and love for

teaching at a country

school near Crosby, ND,

and later substitute teach-

ing at Carpio School.

Evelyn was united in

marriage to her dancing

partner, Donald James De-

Gree, on June 10, 1958, at

St. Mary’s Foxholm

Church, where they con-

tinued their membership

for many years. Evelyn

and Donald started their

life together on their farm

near Lake Darling. Donald

and Evelyn happily ex-

tended their home by

seven when they wel-

comed, Jim, Bruce, Curt,

Tom, Kevin, Roxann, and

Mary.

Evelyn cherished her

life on their farm. She en-

joyed the duties of being a

farm wife and mother.

There was a smile on

her face no matter what

the job was. If you needed

lunch in the field, help

with your Valentine’s Day

box for school, or a chick-

en plucked and feathered,

Evelyn was there, no

questions asked.

Evelyn’s ways set pre-

cedence for all who mar-

ried a DeGree boy. Sun-

day lunch was a must,

and no one could have a

birthday without a birth-

day cake and homemade

meal. Evelyn cooked, she

cleaned, but most of all

she loved.

Evelyn enjoyed her

Homemaker meetings,

where she enjoyed her

lifelong friendships.

Evelyn stayed active in

this group throughout her

entire life, no matter

where she was.

Evelyn and Donald

moved to Minot in 1994.

Together they joined Our

Lady of Grace Church in

Minot. Evelyn and Donald

attended mass together.

Evelyn’s faith was a main

priority to her. She en-

joyed getting involved and

volunteering. You were

lucky to get a Sunday

donut with Grandma and

Grandpa after attending a

Sunday morning service.

The tan house on 13th

street is where Evelyn’s

twenty-two grandchildren

could remember many

holidays, gatherings, and

sleepovers. You were sure

to get a chocolate malt

and popcorn when you

stayed at Grandma’s

house. Cartoons were a

must, but you had to wait

until after “her show”

(Wheel of Fortune) was

over. Evelyn’s humble and

faithful nature has been

passed through many gen-

erations which will be

cherished forever. Her

love for teaching naturally

came when life lessons

were shared.

Evelyn loved to make

conversation with anyone

and everyone. She en-

joyed listening as much as

sharing. It didn’t matter

who you were or how

long you knew her, she

was your friend. She

cared as if she had known

you for years. Her family

knew when their time slot

was and when they could

expect her call. Her lam-

inated phone sheet was

her saving grace. Anyone

who got off the phone

with Evelyn felt a little bit

lighter and a whole lot

brighter. A conversation

with Evelyn made anyone

feel good.

Evelyn lived a beautiful

and full life. Holiday trad-

itions were very impor-

tant to her. She enjoyed

the small gestures or the

special moments of mak-

ing a craft/food project for

a fancy Thanksgiving

plate setting or an after-

noon of Easter egg dying.

The grandchildren loved

their traditional hot

cocoas and popcorn for

Christmas each year. She

loved the simple things in

life and was happy.

Her loving family in-

cludes: sons, James

(Cathy) DeGree, Minot,

Bruce (Jill) DeGree, Fox-

holm, ND, Curt (Nancy)

DeGree, Bismarck, ND,

Thomas DeGree, Coon Ra-

pids, MN, Kevin (Tina)

DeGree, Foxholm, ND;

daughters, Roxann

(Daren) Brown, Des Lacs,

ND, Mary (Jason) Winter,

Fargo, ND; 18 grandchil-

dren; four great-grand-

children; sister, Doris

(Bill) Schmitz, Bismarck,

ND; and numerous nieces,

nephews and cousins.

Evelyn was preceded in

death by her parents; hus-

band, Donald; grand-

daughter, Courtney Eliza-

beth DeGree.

Mass of Christian Buri-

al: Wednesday, August

17, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at

Our Lady of Grace Cathol-

ic Church, Minot.

Interment: St. Mary’s

Catholic Cemetery, Fox-

holm, ND.

Visitation: Tuesday

from 4:30 to 5 p.m. and

on Wednesday from 10

a.m. until service time at

Our Lady of Grace Cathol-

ic Church, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service:

Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Our

Lady of Grace Catholic

Church, Minot.

Memorials: are pre-

ferred to the Our Lady of

Grace Food Pantry.

The service will be

livestreamed for the pub-

lic to view and can be ac-

cessed by going to the

Thompson-Larson funeral

home website: www.

thompsonlarson.com.

Those wishing to sign

the online register and

share memories may ac-

cess the online obituaries

section at (www.

thompsonlarson.com).