Evelyn Pearl (Bruggers) Damhof

Evelyn Damhof, age 96, of Willmar, formerly of Roseland, died Friday, January 31, at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home in Willmar.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 4, at Roseland Reformed Church.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday, February 3, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.  Memorials are preferred to St. Croix Hospice or the Bethesda Foundation.  Arrangements are with Tri-County Funeral Hoime in Prinsburg, www.tricountyfuneral.com.

Evelyn Pearl (Bruggers) Damhof was born on July 5, 1923, in Roseland Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, the daughter of Anna (Dragt) and Henry Bruggers.    She grew up on a farm near Roseland where she also attended school.  She was a lifelong member of the Roseland Reformed Church, being baptized and making her confession of faith at a young age.  On October 28, 1942 she was united in marriage to Benjamin Dykema.   This union was blessed with two children, Patricia and Ben.  They lived in Roseland until Benjamin’s death in 1949.  On May 20, 1951, she was united in marriage to Herschel Damhof.   This union was blessed with two more children, Trudy and Todd.  They lived on the Damhof family farm where they farmed for many years, and later began refinishing antique furniture.   She taught Sunday School and Catechism, and she and Herschel lovingly took care of the church for many years.  They moved into Roseland in 1993, and later moved to Willmar in 2004.  After Herschel’s death in 2011, Evelyn moved to Westview Village, where she lived until she moved to the Bethesda Nursing Home.

Evelyn always enjoyed entertaining, be it family or friends.  She was famous for her caramel rolls, brownies and chocolate chip cookies.   She was very artistic and loved to decorate, and took pride in her arrangements she would make for church.  The family remembers fondly the pride she took in decorating floats year after year for the Roseland 4th of July parades.   But her biggest pride and joy was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and was looking forward to welcoming another great-grandchild in February.  She enjoyed watching them in church programs, school and sporting events, and being able to attend their weddings.   She was a strong woman of faith and spent time every day during her daily devotions to pray for every member of her family. 

Evelyn is survived by her children: Pat (and Jerome) Roelofs of Sanger, TX, Ben (and Deb) Dykema of Walker, MN, Trudy (and Dave) Jones of Willmar, MN,  and Todd (and Mari) Damhof of Willmar, MN.   Also surviving are 17 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 1 on the way; sister-in-law: Lilah Kleinhuizen of Renville, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husbands: Benjamin and Herschel; her parents; brothers: Jack and Marvin; and sisters: Annette, Gertrude, Minnie, Berndina, Cornelia, and a sister in infancy; great-granddaughter: Bria; and son-in-law: Gary Fonkert.

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