Rd Evjen

RD Evjen, 84 passed away Friday, July 23, 2021 at St. Patrick’s Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born December 19, 1936 in Missoula, Montana to Loine and Arthur Evjen. When he was young, his family moved to Polson where his father owned and operated the OK Rubber Welders Tire shop on the shores of Flathead Lake. This began Dad’s lifelong love for this majestic body of water, which would become the home away from home on weekends for many years of his life. In 1954 he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served as a firefighter at bases in New Mexico and overseas in Germany and France. Upon his return from the service he met Sheila Vollmers when she was babysitting for one of his relatives. The two were married in 1965 and remained together until the time of her death in May of 2020. There were two children born of this marriage, Mike in 1968 and Kathy in 1970. It was during the time in the hospital following Kathy’s birth he met his life-long friend and business partner (Roger Hyndman) in what was to become Missoula Drywall. Dad was well known in the construction business and owned and operated Missoula Drywall, with Sheila until their retirement in 2012. In 2006 dad was diagnosed with Friedrich’s Ataxia, which eventually took the use of his legs from him and placed him in a wheelchair two years later. There was nothing more important to dad than family. He enjoyed spending time at Flathead Lake, fishing, stories by the camp fire and anything to do with family especially his grandchildren. Dad grew up in an era where each child had a nickname and yes each of his grandchildren had one also. His infectious laugh and that mischievous smile will be missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sheila, his parents, his sister Mildred and his brother Lyle. Survivors include son Mike (Gloria), daughter Kathy (Rob); grandchildren, Ryan, Sydney and Tia; brother, Wayne, sisters, Myrna (Chuck) and Sonja (Bill); sister-in-law, Eileen (Cliff) along with numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Caldwell for his years of dedicated care; St Patrick’s Hospital for the gracious care over the past three weeks; the dedicated home health caregivers who allowed dad to remain in the family home and the friends who continued to visit and brighten RD’s day even when he couldn’t return the favor. Per his request there will be no formal services. A graveside service with full military honors will be at 9:00 AM on Friday, July 30, 2021 at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, where both he and Sheila will be interred together.