Evelyn Hess

Our beloved mother, sister, grandmother and friend, Evelyn Mae (Beal) Hess passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 28, 2019. This would have been her husband Elmer’s 95th birthday.

She was born May 3, 1929 at Colony, Allen County, as the fourth of 11 children to Albert Linn and Grace Henrietta (Hardin) Beal. She lived her entire life in Allen County, graduating from Iola High School.

Growing up she enjoyed 4-H, taking the family Jersey cows to the Kansas State Fair. 4-H sewing was never her favorite, but she learned well and later sewed many of her family’s clothes. She also grew a large garden and canned the bounty. Through 4-H she also met Rosalia (Hess) Badders who introduced her to her brother Elmer Hess, who she married on April 15, 1950 in Iola. From this union eight children were born. When the children were small, there were no local school buses, so she learned to drive to take the neighborhood kids to school.

In the summer of 1959, they bought their farm south of Humboldt. It took all the money they had, but the next day was payday at the oil company where Elmer worked. Then they were able to start their own milk cow herd.

Evelyn continued to be an active mother, grandmother and farm wife for the thirty-nine years that Elmer farmed until he passed away in a farm accident Oct. 3, 1989. A year later Evelyn moved into her home in Humboldt. There she became active at the Humboldt Senior Center helping with the daily lunches and meeting friends. In 2015, she moved to Arrowhead Lane in Humboldt, then to the Presbyterian Manor of Parsons, in January 2019.

Evelyn was a member of Daughters of American Revolution, the St. Joseph Altar Society, and the Humboldt St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Elmer Hess, son Patrick Steven Hess, daughter-in-law Diana Hess; an infant brother and sister; brother Harry Beal; sisters Eleanor Robinson and Joan Beck; three sister-in-laws and seven brother-in-laws. She is survived by seven children: Ed Hess (Eunice Slife) of Chanute, Bill Hess (Loretta) of Humboldt, Mike Hess (Barbara) of Humboldt, Jeanette Holsten (Don) of Ensing, Tim Hess of Humboldt, Lorie Westhoff (Randy) of Erie, Ron Hess of Oronogo, Mo. She also leaves 24 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren as well as five siblings; Dorothy West, Robert Beal (Nedra), Nina Powell (Reverend Dale), Richard Beal and Laura Roush, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends and family may have informal visitation at the funeral home from noon until 4 p.m. on Monday. A rosary for Evelyn Mae will be at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Humboldt on Monday evening at 6 p.m. The funeral will be at the church at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2. Burial will follow at the St. Joseph Cemetery, Humboldt. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Memorials are suggested to be made to the Humboldt Senior Center and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 101 N. Highland, Chanute, KS 67720.