Eminent Homemaker
County: Spink
Esther M. Evans of Verdon was born on Jan. 17, 1888, in the home in which she now resides. Her birth date came five days after the terrible blizzard of 1888. The place was the homestead her folks had staked out on the patch of prairie land in Spink County.
A true daughter of the prairie, Evans has spent all but several years of her life on the home place.
As a young woman, she attended Redfield College and obtained a teaching certificate. She then taught rural school in her home community.
In 1907, she married Benjamin Evans and the couple farmed near the birthplace of Evans. A year later, they moved to the present place when Evans’ parents, Frank and Kati Markham, retired. The couple retired 10 years ago after 43 years of active farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans raised five children. They are Francis, Larina (Earl Lutz), Cyril, Loyle and Aubra. Francis was killed in a farm accident in 1935.
“Mrs. Evans in one of those people who is always there when you need her,” commented a close neighbor and friend of the eminent homemaker.
In 1950, Evans was honored for 25 years of membership in the “Help-One-Another” Extension Club, and has served 10 years with the club since. She has served as president of the Brown County Extension Council.
Although not active as a farm homemaker, Evans still maintains a garden every year and preserves fruits and vegetables. She makes clothing for her grandchildren, and spent much of last winter working on a quilt.
She is a member of the Methodist WSCS and the Kings Daughters Circle, a nondenominational women’s Bible study organization. Several years ago, she served as branch president for this group. She has taught Sunday school and served as superintendent. In addition, she has devoted her time in fundraising drives for the American Cancer Society and Christian Rural Overseas Program (CROP).
Hobbies include collecting salt and pepper shakers, bird watching and raising African violets.