Evelyn Ruth Piersall

Evelyn Ruth Piersall was born in Brainerd, Minnesota, February 4, 1929 to Fred and Marion Schultz. Evelyn was the oldest of 8 children and spent her growing up years on the farm in Brainerd, and graduated from Brainerd High School. After high school she moved to Duluth, Minnesota, where she attended the University of Minnesota Duluth. After completing her Bachelor of Science degree, Evelyn remained in Duluth where she began teaching music in area schools, and directed the choir at Bethany Baptist church in Duluth. It was at Bethany Baptist she met her first husband, Horace Lee Withrow, Jr. and they were married in 1953. They moved to Proctor, Minnesota where they welcomed their children Eloise and Sheldon and lived in Proctor until 2001. Evelyn, a beloved music teacher, taught junior high school band in the Proctor school district until her retirement in 1991. After retirement she continued her life of service through volunteering in the hospice program at St. Mary’s hospital in Duluth. Evelyn and Horace moved to Newberg, Oregon in April 2001 and joined the Friendsview Retirement Community. She continued her life of service at Friendsview where she started a spiritual care program where she also trained the volunteers in hospice practices. Her husband Horace passed away in 2002 and she later married Wayne Piersall in 2005. Evelyn continued her life of service until her memory loss and physical issues slowed her down. Her faith in God never wavered and she passed away peacefully August 9, 2025. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Marion Schultz; sister Lorraine Schultz; brothers Walter Schultz, Larry Schultz, and Dale Schultz; her first husband Horace Lee Withrow, Jr.; her second husband Wayne Piersall; and two nieces and one nephew. She is survived by her sisters: Marlys Voss, Carol Anderson, and Diane (Duane) Shutt; two children, Eloise (Steve) Hockett of Newberg, OR; Sheldon Withrow, of Sommerville, South Carolina; grandchildren Janine Duronslet and Samuel (Caitlin) Hockett; and 5 great-grandchildren; Jean-Luc Duronslet, Sebastien Duronslet, Olivia Duronslet, Hayley Hockett, and Ellie Hockett.

Evelyn Ruth Piersall

February 4, 1929 - August 9, 2025