Evelyn Steier

Evelyn Rose (Hunnell) Bergen Steier died Monday, January 4, 2010 at Henderson, NE. She was born January 25, 1925 to Harry and Matilda (Ochsner) Hunnell near Saronville, NE. She attended grade school in and near Stockham, and 2 years of high school at Stockham, then transferred to Sutton High School, where she graduated in 1942, so she could take Normal Training to teach school. She taught 3 years at District 2 in Hamilton County, then worked at the Harvard and Grand Island air bases as a civilian payroll clerk.

She was united in marriage to Harley Bergen in April, 1947, and their early years of marriage were spent on a farm northwest of Henderson. After she was married, she enrolled at the University of Nebraska where she renewed her teaching certificate by correspondence and then taught 2 ½ more years. While still living on the farm, Harley and Evelyn were blessed with their first son, Terry James. They moved to town in 1954 to start an insurance business and were blessed with their second son, Timothy Dale, in 1957.

When both sons were of school age, Evelyn took employment at the Henderson Community School, where she worked for 25 years. Many in the community remember Evelyn’s cheerful face in the school office. She later worked as a paraprofessional in elementary classrooms.

Harley passed away in November of 1984. In February 1990, she married Elvin Steier at the Presbyterian Church in Superior, Nebraska. She and Elvie continued to live in Henderson, but enjoyed spending the winter months in southern Texas for 11 years.

Evelyn was a people person. She loved getting together with friends and family and going for coffee. She was a great letter-writer and maintained correspondence with many far-away friends and family members. Her family will remember her as a warm, caring, and kind mother and grandmother, always concerned about her family and others in the community. She loved to cook and bake and took many a casserole or pie to grieving or sick families.

She is survived by her husband, Elvin, her sons and daughter-in-laws, Terry and Karla Bergen and Tim and Roberta Bergen, and her grandchildren, Ann (Mark) Foster, Michael (Kelsey) Bergen, Randi Bergen , Kelli Bergen, and her great-grandchildren, Ava Rose Foster and William Daniel Gerlach. Also survived by brother-in-law and wife, Eugene and Lu Bergen, and sister-in-law Sophia Bergen, many nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends including step-children Cathy Holloway, Carla (Ron) Glebe, Colleen Utecht, Cami (Greg) Poppe, Phil Steier, and their families. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Harley; her parents, Harry and Matilda Hunnell; and two sisters, Mary and Marilyn.

Graveside services were held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Bethesda Cemetery in Henderson. Memorial services followed at 2:00 p.m. at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. Memorials may be directed to Bethesda Pre-School or the Bethesda Radio Fund.