Mildred Evenson

Mar 11, 1919 -

Apr 8, 2021

Mildred Evenson passed away on April 8, 2021, at the age of 102, at her home in Kasilof, Alaska, surrounded by family.

Born on March 11, 1919, she began her life as Mildred Cox in Ladysmith, Wis.

She met her future husband, Irvin Evenson, in 1939, on a blind date while Irv was visiting Wisconsin after the commercial fishing season in Bristol Bay.

She arrived in Alaska via steamship to Seward and train to Anchorage. She and Irv were married on Sept. 6, 1940, in Anchorage. In 1943, they moved to a homestead on Sand Lake Road, and began the groundwork for Evenson's Sand Lake Potatoes. After retiring from farming in 1966, she and Irv moved to Kasilof.

Over their 69 years together, Mildred and Irv traveled far and wide, venturing across the world to Asia, Europe, Australia and South America. She was known to be an unconditional advocate for education, supporting her multi-generational family in any way she could.

The embodiment of "home," Mildred was nothing less than a quick-witted firecracker with a soft spot for the Seattle Mariners and a tasteful glass of wine, or seafood salad.

Stacking firewood in her greenhouse and maintaining her tomato plants, Mildred was an avid gardener and was a firm believer that the great outdoors was just a few steps into her front yard. In addition to her affinity to bird and squirrel watching, fresh produce was abundant from her garden.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Nellie Cox; brother, Willard; husband, Irvin; and son, Daniel.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Jean Evenson of Kasilof, Robert and Kathleen Evenson of Kasilof, and Kelly Evenson of Kasilof; sister, Catherine of Wisconsin; granddaughters, Carleen Ducker and husband Aaron, Liane Glick and husband Robert of Kasilof, Rosalyn Evenson of Soldotna, Alaska, Mackenzie Evenson of Chicago, Ill., Cary Evenson and husband Jared Silliker of Seattle, Wash., and Amy Ten Broeck and husband Eric of Portland; great-grandchildren, Ashton Ducker, Cory Ducker, Reuben Glick and Madison Glick, all of Kasilof, Owen Silliker of Seattle and Nora Ten Broeck, Lucas Ten Broeck and Sawyer Ten Broeck of Portland.