Evelyn Alta Yates

     Evelyn “Evie” Alta Yates, (née Bergstrom), born on September 22, 1930, in Maiden Rock,

Wisconsin, passed away on November 27, 2024 at the age of 94 in North Branch, Minnesota.

     She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Yates (1926-2001), parents Axel and

Evelyn Bergstrom, sister Mary Anderson, and brother Floyd Bergstrom, and grandson, Thanen

Yates (1974-1995).

     Evelyn leaves behind 4 children: Gaylen (Mary) Yates, Leija (Scott) DeLisi, Donald (Trudy)

Yates, and Charles (Kate) Yates, as well as 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 6

great-great-grandchildren, and her sister Betty Jensen.

     Evelyn grew up in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, a sweet little river town on the shores of Lake

Pepin, a natural lake formed by the Mississippi River. She and Charles raised four children, bred

and showed champion prize-winning dachshunds, camped across country in many National

Parks, and had adventures that she never imagined growing up in Maiden Rock. She likely

never dreamed of visiting Hawaii and Germany or traveling to Botswana to go on an African

safari — but she did. And she certainly never imagined she would live in Nepal, fly past the top

of Mount Everest, or ride elephants to look for tiger and rhinos — but she did that too. And when

her travels were done, she settled in Rush City near her son Gaylen.

     Evelyn also had the greenest of thumbs. She used it for vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and

prolific Christmas cacti. She started an avocado pit and planted it at the Ambassador’s

residence in Kathmandu and it grew to 30 feet tall. They are still harvesting large, delicious

avocados every season.

     Despite Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and increasing blindness in recent years, she continued to

tackle life head-on and still enjoyed meeting people and telling tales of her long and rich life. We

hope she rests in peace, but knowing her, she’s probably planting a heavenly garden while

talking Charles’ ear off as they catch up on all that has happened since he preceded her on their

journey.

Memorials may be directed to: Macular Degeneration Research;   www.brightfocus.org

Rev. Teleen Saunders will officiate Evie's funeral service; 11:00 AM Friday (12/6/24) at Fish Lake Lutheran Church of Harris. 

A time of visitation and reviewal is planned for one hour prior to the service.  

The interment will take place at a later date in the Moravian Cemetery near Lund, Wisconsin.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel

     www.FuneralAndCremationService.com