A Private Family Rosary will be held at 10:30am MT; followed by a Private Family Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am MT, all on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon. Fr. Dan Juelfs and Deacon Bill Dustman will officiate.

The Services will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be found on Don's obituary on the funeral home website www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com

The graveside service is open to the public at approximately 11:45 at Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon. Full military honors will be afforded by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post #66 of Lemmon.
Visitation will be on Friday, January 1, 2021 from 1:00 to 7:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.

Serving as casketbearers are Don's grandsons, Robert Steele, Scot Steele, Eric Steele, Brett Steele, Brad Steele, Devin Steele, Troy Steele, Matthew Even, Justin Tritz, Trenten Carr.
Serving as Honorary Casketbearers are Don's granddaughters, Maria Zorc, Rebecca Gerszewski, Danielle Beier, Stephenie Gerving, Michelle Nelson, Sharon Tritz, Amanda Lehrkamp, and Vicki Collins.

Don was born in the Lemmon Hospital, above The Bank of Lemmon on Main Street, about where Benny's Restaurant is today on May 19, 1931. He was the youngest of 10 children born to George and Mary (Reecy) Even. His dad told him "it froze as deep as the field was plowed" the day he was born. They lived on a farm southeast of Thunder Hawk. Because of severe drought in the area in about 1937, he and his mom and older brothers moved with their cattle to eastern South Dakota while his dad and oldest brother remained on the farm to continue farming. In 1947, they returned to the area lock, stock and cattle. He then worked on the farm and at several businesses in Lemmon. In 1951, he met his future wife, Marjorie Schilling. In 1952 with wedding plans made, Don was drafted which put the wedding plans on hold until his leave time. At that time, he was sent to electrical training with the Army. No leave; another delay. When we saw the whites of his eyes, we grabbed the opportunity. We were married October 14, 1952. After 3 short weeks, he went to Korea for the next 1 ½ years. 900 letters and 1 phone call later he came home and went to work for Bill Stock at Stock's Electric. In 1962, Don and Ernie Trogstad purchased Stock's Electric where he remained until 1978. He then started Don's Electric and operated it until 2008 when he sold to it Boyce Reede.

Don was a handyman at heart. He remodeled their house from attic to basement, inside and out. We lived on Second Street West for over 65 of our 68 years of marriage and in the same house for over 62 years. We moved once the entire time we lived on Second Street West, and that was across the street.

Don always put work first. But when he did play, he loved to garden, camp, fish, boat and always had time to spend with his family. He will be fondly remembered by all for being kind and generous but mostly for his great sense of humor. He had an ability to tell a story and you were never sure if it was fact or fiction.

Don was a member of and active in many community organizations as follows: past president of The Lemmon Area Chamber of Commerce, past president of the South Dakota Electrical Contractors Association, The American Legion and Commander of the VFW and Cub Scouts. He was also an active member in St Mary's Church and the, Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, daughters - Margret (Peggy) Steele (Mike) Beach, ND; Brenda, Rapid City, SD; and Valerie Tritz (Todd), Dumont, MN; sons - Ronald, Minneapolis, MN; Daniel, Fairbanks, AK; and Charles (Tiffany), Sturgis, SD; 18 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Virginia Even, Missoula, MT; Mavis Even, Keldron, SD; and numerous nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents - George and Mary; 2 sisters – Ethel Blindert and Ann Graybeal; and brothers - Arnold, Leonard, Edward, Ray, Leo, Bernard, and Albert Even.

Cards may be sent to Brenda Even, 4205 Brookside Dr., Rapid City, SD 57702-2029.