Obituary of Evelyn May Haugen

VIDEO TRIBUTE: https://deogloria.ca/haugen

On Thursday, September 10, 2020, Evelyn May (Yates) Haugen, loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend, passed away at age 69 in Hanna, AB. Evelyn was born on May 5th, 1951 in Stettler, AB to Reginald and Marion (Johnson) Yates.

She is survived by her mother Marion Yates, loving husband Gilbert, her daughter Jolene (Elvie), daughter Lynn (Jason), brothers David (Phyllis), Don (Elsie), Norman (Jan), Cecil (Linda), grandchildren Acadian, Kaylee and Kalli, sisters in law Carol and Gayle, brothers in law Rolland and Lloyd, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was predeceased by her father Reginald Yates, grandsons Kerry and Bailey, brother Gordon Yates and niece Marsha Yates.

Evelyn grew up alongside her five brothers on her family’s farm NE of Gadsby, AB. Over the years she often shared the highlights and adventures of her childhood. Being raised on a farm meant daily chores, and even difficult labour, but the stories she shared were ones of family picnics at Big Knife Park; locating sinkholes in the pasture and the endless quests to discover their true depth; skating; playing baseball; building tree houses with her brothers; how hard her parents worked; her Mom’s delicious homemade bread.

In 1969 she graduated from Gus Wetter School in Castor, AB and later received her RNA diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

At age 23 she placed her trust in God and walked and lived her faith until her passing.

On October 10, 1975 she married Gilbert Haugen. Together they raised two daughters, Jolene and Lynn.

While her children were still young Evelyn, with the support of her husband, chose to pause her career and devote her full attention to raising her daughters. She devoted all of her time, attention and love to create a beautiful home, and a bounty of treasured memories for her family.

As her young children grew, Evelyn was able to turn more of her time towards working outside her home, using and building upon the ever expanding skill set she gained throughout her lifetime. Through the years she worked variously as a bellhop at A&W, a telephone operator, and casually as a grader operator in Jenner, AB. She put her nursing skills to use in the children’s ward at Red Deer Regional Hospital and in Long Term Care in Brooks, AB. While living in Hanna, she ran a Family Day Home, taught piano lessons, worked for D.A.R.T.S. (out of Drumheller), did custodial work for TELUS (in Hanna, Veteran and Consort districts), and worked retail and lastly Helping Hands in Hanna.

Evelyn’s creativity and artistic talents were displayed through: wheat weaving, sewing, knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, photography, sketching and music. Also, throughout 2019 she worked tirelessly to create and print a book as a final gift to her family. (With the help of a dear friend she was able to complete this task before her passing.) Her love and effort gave it so much meaning…it will be treasured.

Over the years she played violin, electric organ, guitar, electric harp and panpipe. Yet her truest passion was always her piano. There was seldom a day that she did not play, and the memories of her singing and playing songs and hymns will always be with us.

Gardening was another joy for her. She was always interested in researching and learning new skills and putting into practice new and better growing techniques.

Her flowers and garden thrived, as she devoted the same level of care and commitment to them as she did to those she loved: her God, her family, and her friends.

We will always remember her for her kind, compassionate nature, her beautiful, gentle spirit, her great sense of humor, her ability to see the good in the people and world around her. For all the gifts and wisdom, she has graced us with, we will be forever grateful.

Donations in Evelyn's memory are gratefully accepted to the Canadian Cancer Society, Autism Foundation of Alberta, or a charity of one's choice.