Eileen O. Bevolden, 90, Fertile, MN, died Saturday, December 30, 2017, at Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley, MN.

Eileen Orphie (Stusrud) Bevolden was born July 18, 1927, to Hans and Sigrid (Gravdahl) Stusrud at Gull Lake, Sask, Canada. She grew up on the Canadian prairie and as a little girl enjoyed running the hills, riding her pony, Julia, shooting gophers with a .22, and helping her parents raise 7 brothers and a sister. Eileen attended Richview country school where she finished 8 ^th grade at the top of her class. She took two more years of school through correspondence but due to the times, she was not allowed to go on for her education. She worked for area neighbors with housekeeping and in 1946, went to her aunt Helga's in Hogeland, Montana to help her.

While there, she attended a catholic picnic and met her future husband, Clifford, they were wed in Chinook, MT, on October 12, 1946. After living a couple years in Montana, Cliff's father purchased a farm in Spring Township, outside of Fertile, MN. They moved there, joining Cliff's brother, Palmer to farm as a partnership. Cliff and Eileen raised five daughters together. Eileen was a busy farmer's wife and mother. She had a huge garden, raised chickens, sewed her children's clothes, canned, bake, and kept a spotless home. In her spare time, she like to paint and draw. In 1967 Cliff and Eileen decided to move into town. Eileen was hired by Ray Christian as a book keeper with the Fertile Hatchery later known as Christian Motors. She worked for him for 24 years. During these years, Eileen became a grandmother of 15, and great grandmother of 21. She was a doting grandma and loved them all dearly. She enjoyed photography, having over 60+ photo albums, plus making individual ones for her grandchildren. She enjoyed coffee parties and decorating seasonably at her home.

She attended every sporting event with Cliff, even travelling to state tournaments. Cliff and Eileen traveled to many places. She was able to go to Norway 3 times and made yearly trips back to Gull Lake to visit her extended family. She held many offices with the American Legion Auxiliary and Garden Club, and enjoyed entering many items in the Fertile Fair, crafts, flowers, and baked items. Cliff and Eileen also set up the Detroit Lakes Flea Market for many years, buying and selling antiques. In 1998 she became a Foster Grandparent at the FB school, she volunteered for 18 years and was very proud of this fact. While volunteering, she would leave treats in the grandchildren's lockers, a special memory for all of them. Eileen was on her knees gardening and washing her floors until the age of 89. She loved her flowers, shopping at Encore and her new role of "Great Grandma." Eileen entered the Twin Valley Living Center in the summer of 2017 due to a hip fracture.

Eileen is survived by her 5 daughters, Sylvia Piche, Audubon, MN, Elaine (Jim) Bakken, of Missouri, Sherry (Marlen) Jensrud, Fertile, MN, Darlene (Dale) Solie, Fertile, MN, and Carole Larson, Fertile, MN, 14 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, brothers, Leonard, Ken and Stan (Jan), and sisters-in-law, Donna and Karen. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Clifford, grandson, Mark, brothers, Dennis, Gordon, and Hubert and her sister, Sonja (Charles).

Funeral: Private family services will be held at Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.

Burial: Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Fertile, MN.