Evelyn J. Boettner
1931-2015
Rock Port, Missouri

Evelyn JoAnne (Owen) Boettner, 83, passed away June 1, 2015, in her home in rural Rock Port, Missouri.

Evelyn was born Sept. 11, 1931, and was the daughter of Hobart Goodman and Fern Blondell (Steeves) Owen. Evelyn was born in Hawleyville, Iowa, and lived her early years there with her parents and her six siblings. In second grade, the family moved to Essex, Iowa. During her years at home, Evelyn delivered newspapers and babysat nieces, nephews, and other children. Upon her graduation from Essex High School, she went to work at Security Trust and Savings in Shenandoah, Iowa, and worked there until her marriage.

On January 16, 1955, Evelyn married Ralph Boettner of Rock Port, Missouri. She became a farm wife and lived on the family farm for the next 60 years, until she passed away. With help from Ralph, Evelyn planted a huge garden every year and canned and froze many fruits and vegetables and made jams. She was an excellent seamstress and made the majority of the clothes for her three children, throughout their years at home. In the last year of her life, she was still actively sewing clothes for children in Haiti.

Over the years, Evelyn was active in Extension Club work, serving as president several times. She was an active leader in the Circle 4 4-H Club, serving both as the club leader and a project leader in sewing and other projects for many years. She continued to work with children through 4-H long after her own children had grown. Within the United Methodist Church, Evelyn was very involved in the United Methodist Women, serving on committees and taking officer positions at the local, state, and even national level. She contributed of her time and finances to many mission projects through the church, helped with many rummage sales, and helped to coordinate many church dinners and events. Along with Ralph, she was also a Sunday School and Bible School teacher for years and worked with the United Methodist Youth Group for many years, again, even after her own children were grown. Ralph and Evelyn traveled many times to Jamaica and other locations with mission work teams. They were always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed.

Evelyn liked to travel, and Ralph and she had traveled to many states, Canada, Europe, the Holy Land, and the Philippines over the years. Her flower beds and garden, along with feeding of the birds year round brought her much joy. Her last morning was spent in her flower bed and feeding the hummingbirds. She loved living in the country and had wished to remain there until the end.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph, in 2009; her brothers, James (as an infant), Lowell, and Leonard Owen; a sister-in-law, Marjorie Owen; two brothers-in-law, Oren Otte and Jim Dideriksen; two nephews, Robert and Michael Dideriksen; and a niece, DiAnn Metz.

Survivors include her children, Rebecca (Leo) Hance of Rock Port, Rachael (Eric) Inman of Nebraska City, Nebraska, and Richard (Bing) Boettner of Maryville, Missouri; grandchildren, Ryan (Melissa) Hance of Mission, Kansas, Adam (fiancée—Paula) Hance of Kansas City, Missouri, Ruth Boettner of Maryville, and Zeke and Wade Inman of Nebraska City; one great-grandson, Mason Hance of Mission; brothers, Maurice (Mary) Owen of Braymer, Missouri, and David (AdaLou) Owen of Merriam, Kansas; sisters, Eleanore (Chuck) Liljedahl of Shenandoah, Iowa, and MaryEtta Otte of Clarinda, Iowa; sister-in-law, Greta Lyden of Rock Port; and many nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life Service:
10:00 A.M., Thursday, June 4, 2015, Rock Port United Methodist Church.
Interment: Linden Cemetery, Rock Port.
The family will receive friends from 9:00-10:00 A.M., prior to the service, at Rock Port United Methodist Church.
Memorials: Rock Port United Methodist Church.
Online obituaries and condolences at www.minterfuneralchapels.com
Services: Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.