EVELYN KATHERINE RUSSELL, of Bigelow, MN, was born to Herman and Hattie (Schweigert) Buntjer on August 31, 1923, in Fulda, MN. She spent her early years in the Fulda area and then the family moved to a farm near Graceville, MN; when she was six years old. During her senior year in high school, Evelyn worked for Margaret and Monroe Russell on the farm near Bigelow, MN. She graduated from Bigelow High School in 1942 and then attended Westmar Teachers? College in LeMars, IA. After graduating from Westmar, she taught in country schools near Allendorf, IA. Evelyn was married to Harry Russell at the Russell home on December 26, 1943. Harry and Evelyn lived on the Russell home place until 1976 when they moved to their nearby farm on which they retired. Evelyn was the Sunday School superintendent and Sunday School worship leader at the Bigelow United Methodist Church for many years. She served on the Bigelow School Board and was a 4-H leader. Evelyn and Harry were founding members of Circle C which met monthly for over 50 years. She was a founding member for the Iowa Camps Farthest Out (CFO) ? a Christian family camp where she bravely took all five kids for many years. Evelyn enjoyed reading, letter writing, gardening, cooking. She always loved taking care of her chickens, farm cats and dogs. Thankful to have shared her life are her children, Ruth Aden and her husband Rod of Bigelow, Jim Russell and his wife Cindy of Bigelow, Donn Russell and his wife Vickie of Branson, Missouri, and Dan Russell and his wife Kari of Worthington; 12 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren . Evelyn died on April 30, 2010 at the Osceola Community Hospital. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband Harry; her parents, her infant daughter Kathleen, her son Jerry, her grandson Scott Aden, her infant great-grandson Kevin Aden, and her brothers Merle, Ray and Leo Buntjer.