My Uncle Bill

Blessed are the memories we have of William Louis Evans

A memorial service was held on November 24, 2012 at the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Princeton, MN.

There were men there from the Local VFW to present the flag to Helen and perform TAPS.

It is written that life begins as an open book with many blank pages. As we live each day our deeds are recorded page by page.

1935-2012 are important dates and just to know the meaning might cause a few tears, but what matter’s the most is dash in between those years.

For that dash represents all the time he spent alive on Earth and recording pages in his book.

Bill’s book was started with his Sunrise January 4th, 1935. He was one of a set of Triplets born to Louis William  and Helen Althea (McArtor) Evans in Cedar Rapids, IA. 

 Him and Wilma grew up together with their brother Norman Ray who was born in 1939.

In 1953 he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Fairfax County, Virginia for a time before going over seas and taking his wife, Nancy with him.

He met Nancy Braaten of Aurora, MN on a blind date while was there working on a construction project in 1956.

He proposed on Christmas 1957. Bill  had promised his 19 year old brother Norman ‘Punky’ that he  was to be Best Man.

That Winter as Bill and Nancy made plans to have their wedding in Aurora Punky became a patient a the Gillette Hospital with Lou Garrett Disease.

Plans were then made to have their wedding in the hospital auditorium and Punky would be strapped to a special bed that could stand up.

In June 1959 while stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, Pulaski, Missouri they had their first son Terry Ray. Then the following July while living in Virginia, MN their daughter Katherine Ann came into their lives. 

It wasn't’ until  September of 1963 while Bill was stationed at Fort Lee, Prince George, Virginia that their second son Louis William Jr was born. While living back in Virginia, MN Harold Theodore was born in October 1964.

Bill was a long time member of Local 49ers The Operating Engineers Union.

April 23, 1970 in Webster, North Dakota he married Helen Marie Traczyk. Helen had five children from a previous marriage.

He enjoyed a life with 9 children and … grand children and .. Great grand children

Many of Bill and Helen's Winters were spent in Texas while the Summers were spent in Minnesota. In 2007 they made the decision to make Minnesota their year round home. They found an apartment in Princeton, MN to be close to Helen's daughter Cindy and granddaughter Angela. 

Bill enjoyed a great hobby in wood working and shared many of his wonderful projects.

It doesn't matter how much we own; the cars, the house, the cash, what matters is how we live and love and how we spend our “dash”. Bill filled his dash with pranks, love, laughter and respect for others.

Bill’s sunset came November 16, 2012 and his final resting place will be in Nebraska.