June 25, 1939 - September 3, 2026
Earl Thomas Evenstad, age 87, passed away peacefully with family by his side on September 3, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love and service.
Born on June 25, 1939, in Valley City, ND, to Tom and Ellen (Monson) Evenstad, he grew up on a family farm in Fingal, ND. Friends consider him a proud product of North Dakota, graduating from Valley City State Teachers College before earning his master’s degree in chemistry from NDSU in 1965.
Earl met Shirley, the love of his life, in 1966 while both were teaching at Lake Region Junior College in Devils Lake. They were married on June 4, 1967. They moved to Richfield, MN in 1969, where Earl dedicated 30 years to teaching chemistry at Normandale College in Bloomington before retiring in 2000.
A man of deep faith and community spirit, Earl was an active and devoted member of Richfield Lutheran Church, Sons of Norway, Kontakt, and the Norwegian Glee Club among others. Whether he was spending time with family and friends or serving on a committee, Earl’s warmth and humor was always present.
Earl was passionate about teaching, playing the accordion, being a Norwegian, the weather, sharing stories about North Dakota, telling Ole and Lena jokes, and the relationships in his life. He loved music, the outdoors, traveling, geography, watching Westerns, playing cards, fishing and bird watching. He was a self-taught piano and button box accordionist who delighted others with his music. He was a lifelong learner who once camped along the Colorado river to study the geology of the Grand Canyon. He was also interested in genealogy and traveled throughout Norway on eight separate trips with family and friends. Equally curious about people as he was places, he enjoyed having one on one conversations and getting to know people. He had a generous nature and a goofy side to his personality that was endearing to everyone.
Earl is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Shirley; his children, Jeff (Mary) of St. Louis Park, MN, LuAnne (Michael) of Bloomington, MN, and Melissa (Mike) of Eden Prairie, MN; and his cherished grandchildren: Mo, Jacob, Thomas, Savannah, and Leah.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jean Evenstad.
Earl will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, whose kind and generous spirit and dry sense of humor touched the lives of everyone who knew him. Earl wore many hats, but his favorite was his cowboy hat.
Memorial Service
Saturday, September 12, 2026
11:00 AM
Visitation 1-hour prior to service.
Richfield Lutheran Church
60th and Nicollet
Minneapolis, MN 55419
Earl was my first cousin. He was about eight years older than me, but growing up, he was always kind to us younger cousins, telling jokes and other stories. He showed kindness to everyone. Their house always had a puzzle or two set up in the porch and anyone was always welcome to help complete them.
Although we were far apart distance wise I often thought about Earl and his music box . .It was always a pleasure to be with him . Enjoyed the get togethers at the Minot Host fests GOD BLESS YOU ALL !
My sincere condolences to the family and friends. Sorry I was not able to make it to the service.
Takk for alt.
A dear man and a true saint. Blessed be his memory.
He was my mother’s first cousin & I remember him growing up from family gatherings at his parent’s home or my grandma’s just up the road or other places in ND. He was a very nice and pleasant man. I have fond memories of him! I later ran across him at Normandale CC in 1991 as I took an undergraduate class (it wasn’t chemistry) to test whether I wanted pursue a MBA (I remain a “graduate candidate”). It was terrific catching up with him then and later! I saw him at some other Norwegian American events through the years in the Mpls area until we moved to our lake home in 2019.
Our sympathies to the family and hope they find peace.
Earl was my instructor for 2 quarters of General Chemistry at Normandale CC back in the mid-1970’s. I enjoyed his dry sense of humor, being of Scandinavian descent myself. Earl and fellow instructor Warren Eidsness (Organic Chemistry) were great teachers, whose combined efforts prepared me well for my subsequent Chemical Engineering studies (B.S & M.S.) at the U of MN, followed by a successful technical career at 3M.