Evelyn Ruth Hembroff was born October 5, 1932 in Gardena/Bottineau, ND and passed away on February 29, 2024 in Sumner, WA. She was the daughter of William Walter Hembroff and Dehlia Lena/Leona Backeberg. Evelyn was the 7th child out of 12 and the last sibling to pass away. Evelyn's early childhood years were spent in the Bottineau, ND area where she was known to ice skate to school on the frozen creek. Then her family moved to the Grace City, ND area where she played on her high school all girls basketball team. Evelyn was united in marriage to Raymond Messall November 17, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Carrington, ND; and to this union 7 children were born: Glennon, Karen, Kristena, Mellena, Marvin, Valorie, and Rosean. For 22 years Evelyn helped farm multiple acres (between Cathay, Sykeston, and Carrington) raising not only family but beef cattle, milk cows, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, cats, and a couple of dogs. She also took part in the growing of crops such as oats, barley, wheat, durum, flax, and garden vegetables. In 1972, Evelyn moved her children to Carrington, ND where she worked 2 jobs; during the day as a nurse's aide at Holy Family Guest Home for elderly/aging residents and as a waitress in the evening. She later moved her family to Seattle, WA to be closer to her siblings where she worked as a cook for Host International and several restaurants over the years until she retired at the age of 64. During her retirement years, she helped raise two of her grandchildren and loved doing a variety of arts and crafts for which she sold at numerous craft shows for many years. Evelyn loved spending time in her garden growing raspberries, sewing, making Christmas quilts, working on puzzles and word finds, watching birds outside her window, reading James Patterson books, watching her favorite soccer team the Seattle Sounders, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Evelyn, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma was loved, cherished, and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers please donate to your local library or senior center in her honor.