Evelyn Astleford
Family and friends grieve and yet celebrate the long life of Evelyn Astleford. Evelyn was a lifelong resident of the Pine Creek area, White River, South Dakota. She showed her tenacious for life, as she fought valiantly to live and stay with her family until the Lord called her home from the Winner Health Care Center, September 30, 2014, age 99. Her family celebrates her remarkable life and holds dear the memories too precious to forget. Celebration of Life services were held at 11:00am on Tuesday, October 7 at the White River Methodist Church.
Evelyn was born in 1915 in Houston County, Minnesota. When she was one year of age, the family returned to their homestead in Mellette County, South Dakota. She was raised along with brothers Carrol and Bus on the Kingsbury homestead on Pine Creek. She attended the Pine Creek Country School and White River High School.
She graduated from White River High School in May of 1932. During that summer she met and dated a young rancher, Ken Astleford. They were married in Winner, South Dakota, December 23, 1932. Two years later, Evelyn and Ken bought their ranch located on Pine Creek. There they raised their family; two sons, Leo and Gary, and one daughter, Sharon.
Evelyn was well known for her love of gracious entertaining and her talent for cooking wonderful meals for friends and family. She so enjoyed sharing her lovely home and having company gathered around her large dining room table to share delicious food and lively conversation.
She was a gifted sewer and enjoyed crocheting. Her home was filled with warm, comfortable quilts and embroidered bedspreads. She always had some type of hand work in progress; consequently, her home displayed many hand- quilted quilts and beautifully made Afghans.
Evelyn’s keen intellect and sharp wit prompted her to persistently be an avid reader. She never lost her continual quest for learning. Her home was filled with books, with titles depicting everything from history to geography to medical journals to mysteries and all the latest novels.
Also indicative of her desire for experiencing additional learning, was her love of travel. She expressed her appreciativeness of being able to visit Europe, Hawaii, Ireland and Alaska. She loved life and was always curious and eager to enjoy all the world had to offer.
After many years of devoting her time to the ranch, being a homemaker, wife and mother, Evelyn ventured forth and became an entrepreneur in her own right. She planned and built the Quarter Circle 96 Drive Inn in White River. She operated the business from 1964 until 1985.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ken Astleford; her parents, Glen and Marie Kingsbury and two brothers, Carroll (Lauretta) and Laurence (Josephine) Kingsbury, and one infant son, Earl Kenneth Astleford. Evelyn is survived by her children, Leo (Ruby), Gary (Elizabeth), and Sharon. Also surviving Evelyn are her grandchildren, Shane (Lisa) Bryan, Guy (Jennifer) Bryan, and Heath (LeRonda) Bryan, Stephanie Astleford (Dale) and Erin (Casey) Beardt. ,Great-grandchildren, Clayton (Heidi) Bryan, Cliff (Nikki) Bryan, Laura Bryan, Kacktus and Kayde Bryan, Dacey and Rebecca Bryan and Autumn Harris. Evelyn also leaves three precious great-great-grand-daughters, Bailey, Carley, and Audrey Bryan.
Isburg Funeral Home, Pierre, is entrusted with arrangements..