Evelyn Catherine Smithson, 85, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, at her home in Kalispell. 

She was born Feb. 18, 1928, to Albert and Prudence Lewis. She was the oldest of six children. She grew up in the Deer Park area near Columbia Falls and attended grade school at Deer Park school, graduating from Flathead County High School. 

On Oct. 12, 1947, Evelyn married Earl Smithson in Kalispell. She enjoyed being a homemaker and raising their five daughters.

Evelyn was involved in Mountain Brook Ladies Club, Creston Auxiliary and the Ladies Pinochle Club. She and Earl lived in Columbia Falls until 1963 when they moved to Mountain Brook, where they lived for 40 years. After Earl passed away she moved to Kalispell. Her saying was, “I don’t do dark and alone in the same sentence.”

After moving to Kalispell, Evelyn served as an election judge for many years. She made many new friends and enjoyed time playing dominoes, Spite and Malice, eating out and attending T.O.P.S. She also enjoyed eating lunch with a group of ladies who all attended the same grade school. Her favorite activity was playing Farkle with her daughters and sons-in-law after a family get together.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; her daughter, Barbara Kennedy; her parents; and her brother, Al G. Lewis.

She is survived by her four daughters and their spouses, Judy and Mike Bolog of Kalispell, Cathy and Dave Evenson of Bigfork, Sandra and Richard Kruckenberg of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Diane and Jim Larsen of Bigfork; her brothers, Bob Lewis and wife Judy of Rapid City, S.D., Ira Lewis and wife Lillian of Vancouver, Wash., and Sam Lewis and wife Nomie of San Diego; and her sister, Velma Lauman, and husband Clay of Tulsa, Okla. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, James Bolog, Justin Bolog and wife Shannon, Scott Evenson and wife Julie, Chad Evenson and wife Jen, Kami and husband BJ Collins, Misty and husband Jason Loveless, Dean Kruckenberg and wife Alicia, Kerry Kruckenberg, Kyle Kruckenberg, Jessie Larsen and wife Rachel, Brent Larsen, and Audrey and husband Kevin Lecy; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Ashlyn, Kierstin, Veronica, Zackary, Trinity, London, Zach, Blake, Alesa, Haylee, Ava, Tabor and Trey; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services for Evelyn will be held at 1 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 30, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell, followed by interment at Fairview Cemetery. Pastor Jamie Woods will be officiating. The visitation will be from noon to 5 pm. today, Oct. 29, at the funeral home. 

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Evelyn’s family.