Evelyn Lucille Beckmann was born March 17, 1926, the sixth of seven children, to Marguerite and John Beckmann, on a farm southwest of Athol, Kansas. She departed this life Sunday, July 19th, 2015 at the Kensington Health and Rehabilitation Center in Kensington, Kansas at the age of 89.

Always an active and independent thinker, she graduated Smith Center High School near the top of her class. During the years after high school she was employed as secretary to Superintendent of Schools in Smith Center, at Western Electric Co. and at The First National Bank of Smith Center. It was somewhat unusual in rural Kansas during the late 1940's, to be a career-minded young woman. She took pride in and enjoyed all her professional work, and during these years, also took the opportunity to travel . . . often alone. Many years later, in 1961, she was asked to join the staff of The First National Bank in Kensington, a position she accepted and held for nearly 30 years.

In the very late 1940's, at a dance in Kirwin, Evelyn was to meet the love of her life, Lewis Norden. They married in 1950 and settled into a life of farming south of Kensington. Lewis preceded her in death in 1987. Their only child, a son, Gary, resides in New York City.

Evelyn received Lutheran catechism instruction, and was confirmed in the High German language, a practice not uncommon in those days. Years later, after her retirement, she traveled several times in German-speaking countries. More than once she responded to a waiter, hotel employee or taxi driver with a fully formed German sentence uttered spontaneously. On those occasions her eyes would widen and she might say: Where did that come from?

An avid reader of periodicals, her refrigerator door functioned principally as a bulletin board displaying clippings of quotes or poems which caught her attention. She also loved classical music and attended many performances of The New York Philharmonic and The Metropolitan Opera when visiting New York City.

In the years just after high school, several friends including Evelyn, formed a round robin letter chain. Sometimes the Robin, as they called it, would arrive as often as once a month. Though the writing activity slowed over the years the tradition continued until 2010 when it was decided, perhaps with more pride than regret, to discontinue it. The Robin had been flying for over 65 years.

Evelyn is laid to rest in the St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery beside her husband, Lewis, and near other family members and loved ones. In addition to her son, Gary, she leaves to mourn her passing many nieces and nephews, friends and more distant relatives. Her sister-in-law, Clara Beckmann, resides in Kensington.

She was preceded in death by all six of her brothers and sisters, her parents, parents-in-law, and, as previously noted, her beloved husband, Lewis.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 22, at 10:30 a.m. in the St. John's Lutheran Church, Kensington, with Pastor Lorna Paulus officiating. Burial will follow in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery.

Mrs. Norden will lie in-state on Tuesday, July 21, from noon – 9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Evelyn Lucille Norden Memorial Fund.