Evelyn F Leach

Evelyn Leach, 89, died on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park, MN.         A private family funeral will be held on Friday, May 5, 2017 at Dobmeier Funeral Home in Barnesville with Father Larry Delaney presiding.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Moorhead.         Visitation will be 5-8 PM, Thursday, May 4, 2017 with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM at Dobmeier Funeral Home in Barnesville, MN.       Evelyn Frances Gantzer was born on July 18, 1927 to Wilfred and Anna (Fleischhacker) Gantzer in St. Paul, MN.  She grew to womanhood in the Twin Cities until she was a senior in high school when her family moved to a farm outside of Moorhead where she graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College Campus School.  During the war, she filled in at the Moorhead Post Office for a period of time.    Evelyn was united in marriage to Verne Arthur Leach on December 1, 1951 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Moorhead.  They raised six children on a farm near Downer.  She worked for Cargill helping with sunflower research, and also for Driscoll Farms in their greenhouses for several years.  She was an active volunteer; serving on the Clay County Planning and Zoning Commission. She also served as chair of two boards: Clay Wilkin Opportunity Council and the Clay County Council on Aging. She was Commissioner for the Clay County Housing Authority, and an alumna of the Blandin Community Leadership Program. Evelyn was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moorhead, the St. Joseph Hospital Ministry Program, and was a clerk for Elkton Township.    She was also involved in the Barnesville American Legion Auxiliary; the Glyndon Coterie Study Clubs, she donated gallons of blood throughout her lifetime and was a volunteer at the Barnesville Potato Days festival.  In 2000, she was awarded the Senior Volunteer Recognition Award representing Clay County at the Minnesota State Fair.    Evelyn had a passion for gardening.  She spent countless hours caring for gardens.  Evelyn stood by and supported her children at all of their activities such as 4-H and baseball.  She also enjoyed Minnesota sports teams and loved NASCAR.  Evelyn and Verne spent countless hours reading electric meters for Red River Co-op Power.  For the last few years, Evelyn has lived at the Sunnyside Care Center of Lake Park and the family is grateful for the care Evelyn received.     She is survived by three sons and two daughters:  Nancy (Bob) Tofsrud, Grand Junction, CO; David (Carol), Glyndon; Terry (Mary), Glyndon; Marcia (Steve) Belau, Rochester, MN; Chris, Audubon, MN; daughter-in-law Sandy, Glyndon; nine grandchildren:  John (Judy) Leach, Kimball, MN; Michelle (Andrew) Pierce, Sioux Falls, SD; Aaron Tofsrud, Grand Junction, CO; Brandon Tofsrud, Grand Junction, CO; Christina Tofsrud, Grand Junction, CO; James Leach, Moorhead, MN; Kristin (Mike) Pennie, Moorhead; Alec Belau, Rochester, MN; 5 great grandchildren:  Thaddeus, Tainika, Raa’heem, LaMarquita and Wilder. She is also survived by a sister JoAnn Barry, Barnesville, and leaves behind many nieces and nephews.    She was preceded in death by her husband, Verne Leach in 2009; son Joseph; daughter-in-law Muriel; her parents; a grandson Jesse; and siblings: Richard Gantzer, Jack Gantzer, and Kathy Kent.     Memorials are suggested to Sunnyside Care Center, Lake Park, MN; the American Legion Auxiliary or a memorial of your choice.    Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.dobmeierfuneralhome.com   Evelyn's Memorial Folder