Funeral services for Evelyn I. Hamann, of Mobridge will be 1:00 PM, Friday, March 16, 2012 at the Kesling Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be from 9 AM to 1 PM Friday, at the funeral home. Evelyn Irene Hamann died peacefully at Hospice Hosue of the Hills in Rapid City on March 11, 2012 at the age of 97.

Evelyn Irene Hamann died peacefully at Hospice House of the Hills in Rapid City on March 11, 2012 at the age of 97.

Evelyn (Swanson) Hamann was born on May 30, 1914 in Hatton, ND to Swan and Clara (Larson) Swanson. The family lived briefly in Marion, ND and then Roslyn, SD where Evelyn attended grade school. They moved to Woonsocket where she graduated from high school in 1931. The next year her family moved to Mobridge where Evelyn made her home for over 75 years. She was first employed at Olson Pharmacy and then as bookkeeper for Mobridge Creamery and Produce.

On July 11, 1939 Evelyn married Clarence (C.J.) Hamann at Independence, IA. While her husband served in the US Army overseas during World War II, she lived in Seattle, WA and worked as a bookkeeper for the Artcraft and Engraving Company. After the war she and C.J. returned to Mobridge and operated the
Palace Lounge which they owned from 1946-1957. They purchased Hamann's Grocery in 1957. C.J. died in 1959 and Evelyn continued to operate the grocery store until 1966. She was later employed at the Spiry Clinic and Mobridge Medical Clinic until she retired in 1984.

Evelyn was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church Women. She was also a lifetime member of the Mobridge Moose Lodge. An avid bowler, Evelyn was a member of the WIBC, attending many state and national tournaments. She was a lifetime member of local and state bowling associations.

In her retirement she spent countless hours creating beautiful counted-cross stitch projects. Evelyn enjoyed playing whist and bingo with her friends, as well as
working on crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She also loved reading and was an
avid sport fan.

In 2007 after years of living independently, she decided to move to Rapid City to live with her daughter where she resided until her death. She also spent several
winters as a snow bird in Tucson, AZ with her son and daughter-in-law. Known as Grandma "E," she dearly loved her three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who felt she was the light of their lives.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter Diane Pawelski, Rapid City, and son Don (Shirley) Hamann, Tucson, AZ; grandsons Scott (Corrina) Hamann, Colorado Springs, CO, Matt (Michelle) Pawelski, Rapid City; granddaughter, Melanie (Brian) Price, Colorado Springs; great- grandchildren Natalie and Ben Hamann, Lily and Ella Price, all of Colorado Springs, Ethan Pawelski, Cheyenne, WY, Hannah
Pawelski, Rapid City; sisters Marian Holliday and Virginia Sunderhaft both of
Lowville, NY; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and sisters, Helen Olson and Phyllis Radtke.