Mass of Christian Burial for Bernard Even, age 85, longtime Keldron farmer and rancher, will be held at 10:30am MT, Thursday, April 14, 2011 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon with Fr. Tony Grossenburg, officiating. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon with full military honors afforded by the Smith-Lyman American Legion Post #279 of Thunder Hawk.


A Rosary Service will be held at 7:00pm MT on Wednesday evening at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon.



Connie Maier will be the pianist and special music will be provided by Dan Nelson and Earl Stugelmeyer.


Serving as honorary casketbearers are Bernard's granddaughters, Jenny Rae Bauchspiess, Alisa McGrath, Kylee Stadheim, Shawnda Maher, Miranda Beckman and Moriah Even. Serving as active casketbearers are Bernard's grandsons, Todd Even, Cullan Even, Chad Even, Jarvis Even, Zach Even and Thomas Maher.



Bernard Emmett Even was born September 23, 1925 at the family home southeast of Thunder Hawk, SD to George and Mary (Reecy) Even. He attended school at the Even Country School and the Thunder Hawk School. Following his schooling, he moved to Duel County near Watertown, SD to help out on the second family farm.


Bernard was inducted into the U.S. Army on October 18, 1945 at Ft. Snelling, MN. He served as a medic and was honorably discharged on November 1, 1946. Following his discharge, Bernard was employed at the Morrell Meat Packing Plant in Sioux Falls. He later returned to the family farm in Duel County.


Bernard moved back to the Thunder Hawk area where he farmed and ranched with his family. In 1951, he met a telephone operator that he took a liking to and on November 19, 1951 he was united in marriage to Mavis Starkey of Meadow, SD. To this union six children were born, Kenneth, Dennis, Colleen, Cindy, James and Gary. In 1973 the family moved 1 ½ miles east and built their own farmstead. Bernard lived out the rest of his days there, caring for his family, farming and ranching.


Bernard was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2010 and passed away peacefully at his home with his family at his side on April 7, 2011.


Bernard's grandchildren and great-grandchildren were his pride and joy. He will be missed by his family and an abundance of friends.


He is survived by his wife, Mavis, of 59 plus years, 3 sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and Lynette Even, Black Hawk, SD, Dennis Even, Douglas, WY, Gary and Brenda Even, Keldron, SD; 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Colleen and Dan Nelson, Meadow, SD, Cindy and Kenny Maher, New Salem, ND; 12 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; 2 brothers and 4 sisters-in-law, Leo and Virginia Even, Missoula, MT, Don and Marj Even, Lemmon, SD and Ellen Even and Dorothy Even, both of Watertown, SD; 2 sisters, Ethel Blindert, Spearfish, SD and Ann Graybeal, Denver, CO; and on Mavis's side of the family, one sister-in-law, Margaret Starkey, Rapid City, SD; one brother-in-law, Robert Starkey and his wife, Venita, Savage, MT; and numerous nieces and nephews.


Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, one son, James in infancy; one grandson, Cody Maher, in infancy; five brothers, Arnold, Ray, Leonard, Albert and Edward Even; four brothers-in-law; and one sister-in-law.


Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 1:00 to 6:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and on Thursday one hour prior to services at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon.


A memorial has been established.