Evelyn Sullinger

Feb. 11, 1940-Oct. 18, 2009

Evelyn Ingrid Sullinger, 69, of Osage, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at Emmanuel Nursing Home, Detroit Lakes, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Evelyn was born to William and Mary (Longfors) Pihlaja on February 11, 1940 in Shell Lake Township, rural Becker County. She attended country school in Shell Lake. As a young woman, she worked in Chicago, Ill., at MacRay’s Plastic. She married Royce Sullinger on December 13, 1959. They raised three sons together.

Evelyn worked for Federal Cartridge in New Brighton, Minn., and later moved her family back to Snellman. She became a USDA inspector for Swift Company in Detroit Lakes and Frazee. Upon the closing of Swift, she was employed at Heartland Foods in Marshall, Minn., as a Quality Assurance Inspector. She retired in 2001 and moved back to Snellman.

Evelyn enjoyed family life, especially her children. She enjoyed hunting with her sons and attending her grandchildren’s school and sporting events, especially watching her grandsons wrestle. Time with her sisters and brothers was also important to her, and she enjoyed several vacations with them. Evelyn always advocated for the less fortunate. She took much more delight in giving than receiving.

Surviving Evelyn are her three sons, Marty (Geri) Sullinger of New Mexico, Mark (Sarah) Sullinger of Osage and Scott (Sandy) Sullinger, also of Osage; 11 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; three sisters, Thelma Saarinen and Shirley Clements both of Osage, and Nora (Delbert) Saarinen of Detroit Lakes; one brother, Roland (Darlene) Pihlaja of Osage; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding Evelyn in death were her parents; brother, Harold Pihlaja; and two sisters, Verna Kangas and Mildred Tretbar.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, with a 7 p.m. prayer service, at West-Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Snellman, with Vicar Edward Hausch officiating.