The Graveside Service for Evelyn F. Sittner, age 93, of Northglenn, Colorado, formerly of Lemmon will be held at 11:00am MT Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon, SD followed by a Service of Remembrance at the New Hope Worship Center with Pastor Alan Hathaway, officiating. A time of fellowship and luncheon will be held following the Memorial Service.

Evelyn Fern Anderson was born February 28, 1915 to Arvid and Hannah (Skoglund) Anderson on her family's homestead near Selma, North Dakota. She grew up on the family farm, attended grade school at a one-room school house, and New Leipzig High School in Grant County, North Dakota. Evelyn played girls basketball and was able to jump her height in the high jump.

She was the second of two girls—Edith and Evelyn. She worked alongside her dad and was his loyal ranch hand. She loved the outdoors and spent many hours riding her favorite horse, Lady. On Lady, no gates needed opening—they cleared each gate together.


In the winter of 1934, Evelyn enrolled in the Northwest Bible and Music Academy (NWBMA) in Lemmon, South Dakota, graduating in 1940 as the Valedictorian of her class. Evelyn worked part-time to put herself through school and ministered to small churches in Cole Springs and MacIntosh, South Dakota, as well as serving as the Church of God Youth Director for the South Dakota/North Dakota/Montana region. It was during these years that she met Rev. Alex Sittner, a teacher at NWBMA. They were married in San Jose, California on May 11, 1941.

In 1941 God called Evelyn and Alex to begin a ministry in Tacoma, Washington. They served soldiers and their families stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. Some of their most enjoyable and meaningful years were spent in that Church of God military ministry. Evelyn and Alex prayed that God would spare the lives of all the soldiers who came through the mission and during that time not one soldier lost his life. During these years, four children were born to their union: Marie Elizabeth, Sharon Fern (deceased in infancy), John Arvid, and James Alexander.

In May 1948, Alex and Evelyn returned to the Dakotas where they supported their ministry to rural churches by farming and ranching. They pastored a number of Church of God churches in the Dakotas, including Cole Springs, MacIntosh and Rider. In 1950, Alex and Evelyn moved to a ranch near Mobridge, South Dakota. The family continued to drive 60 miles one way each Sunday to the Lebanon church to minister to that congregation.

With sons ready for college, Evelyn and Alex moved to Rapid City, South Dakota in 1964. Alex sold insurance, and Evelyn and he were members of the South Canyon Church of God. They also continued to help fill the pulpits of various rural churches as needed.

In 1991, Alex and Evelyn retired to the Lemmon area where they bought a small farm north of town, close to their daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Ron Clapsaddle.

In 2005, Evelyn and Alex sold their New Leipzig home and moved to Northglenn, Colorado, to be near their sons and families. Evelyn passed away at St. Anthony's North Hospital in Westminster, Colorado on Sunday, November 16, 2008.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Alexander Johanas Sittner of Northglenn, Colorado; daughter Marie Clapsaddle and family; sons John and James Sittner and families; niece Sonia Logsdon and family; 10 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 3 great-nieces/nephews and 3 great-great nieces/nephews:
Preceding her in death were her sister, Edith Leone Barth, and her daughter, Sharon Fern Sittner.

Evelyn had a great and zealous love for her Savior Jesus. She spent much time teaching her children and grandchildren her love for the Bible, prayer and her Lord. She was a godly example and encouraged each one to seek to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.