Wilbert "Bert" Eveslage, age 89, of Mahnomen, MN died Friday, December 24, 2010 at the Fargo VA Medical Center in Fargo, ND.


Wilbert John Eveslage, the son of Joseph and Marie (Klinkhammer) Eveslage, was born on July 28, 1921 in Mahnomen, MN. As a youngster, he attended country school and worked on the family farm. In 1944, Bert entered the United States Navy where he served as a seaman during WWII. On October 9, 1944 Bert was united in marriage to Lorraine Liebl in Bird Island, MN. Upon his honorable discharge in 1946 he came home to join Lorraine in Mahnomen. Bert farmed in the area until 1954 when they moved to Minneapolis, MN and he began working for Waldorf Paper Products. A few years later, they returned to the Mahnomen area and purchased a home near Beaulieu, MN. Bert painted with Mr. Bellefeuille for several years before starting his own taping and texturing business. He operated his own business for over thirty years, continuing to work even after his retirement. In the 1970's, Lorraine and Bert moved in to Mahnomen to make their home.


Bert was a member of the Mahnomen American Legion Isaacson-Bjorge Post # 31and the Bejou VFW Wild Rice Post #1226. He was an avid fisherman and had a pole in hand whenever he could sneak away. He enjoyed sports and loved to watch both the Vikings and the Twins. In his later years, Bert began painting pictures and often shared those with family and friends.


Bert is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lorraine Eveslage of Mahnomen; four sons: Richard (Ann) of Fargo, Don (Diane) of Mahnomen, Gary (Vicky) of Culpepper, VA, and Glenn (Jean) of Big Lake, MN; two daughters, Gayle (Jon) Raye of Balsam Lake, WI, and Lynn ( Jeff) Puhalla of Hawley, MN; two brothers, Joseph of Minneapolis, MN, and Jerome (Jan) of Shakopee, MN; four sisters: Heidi Tritbough of Minneapolis, Rena Bruggeman of Mahnomen, Eleanor (Marvin) Schoenborn of Mahnomen; and Elaine Kaiser of Burnsville, MN; 13 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.


He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, David; one great-granddaughter, Amanda Gorder and one sister, Eldora Barrack.
A Memorial Service was held at 11:00am on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen. Concelebrating was Father Mario Prada and Father Rick Lambert. The pianist was Brenda Sørensen, the song leader was Anita Lavoy and Jeff Puhalla played saxaphone. Urnbearers were Brian Eveslage and Tony Raye and the honorary urnbearers were Bert's grandchildren and great grandchildren. Military honors were provided by Mahnomen American Legion Isaacson-Bjorge Post #31 and MNARNG Honor Guard. Visitation was on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, with a Prayer Service at 6:30pm, at the Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home in Mahnomen.

Inurnment was at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery in Mahnomen.